Month: November 2016

Solar Charge Controller Woes ….. Disconnect Needed

Funny thing happened the other day.  I was doing some electrical work and popped a GFCI plug.  Didn’t think too much about it, went on about my businness and finished the work.  A couple days later I went into the trailer and …. no lights.  Since I don’t plug in, ever …. this only meant one thing, dead battery.  As I looked into the reasons for a dead battery, I discovered that the Solar Charge controller was no longer functioning.  I have ordered a new one, and it is on its way.  I really need to design in a fail safe that disconnects the solar controller when we are plugged in to 110 at a campground.  It sort of makes sense that there could be a spike on the trailer chassis ground for a split second, if and when a GFCI pops, and if there were a spike …. it could detrimentally effect sensitive electronics.  A possible fix is a surge suppressor on the 12V Charge controller line, or a contactor that disconnects the solar whenever we are using 110V ….. I will be doing more testing and evaluating in the next few days to determine the best course of action.

We are heading out on the road in just a couple weeks, I’ll do something with this problem before we do leave.  This post will be updated in the next few days as I decide what to do and get it done.

2016/12/6 – Received a shipment of new Solar Charge Controller. Everything is working as it should be. Still considering exactly how to create, install the disconnect. I use a fairly inexpensive Charge controller from Eco-Worthy, and it is far less than other similar charge controllers, still …. if I can prevent loss and having to spend 100 dollars every time the GFCI is triggered, why not do that. Still thinking through everything. Answer, soon.

Enchanted Rock – a Gem in the Hill Country of Texas

Enchanted Rock – Introduction

MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE!! ARRIVE VERY EARLY!! When parking fills up, they close the park. Us locals all know, so we arrive at the crack of the Enchanted Rock visitor center opening to no later than 2 hours into the day. If you want to see this park, arrive early!

We have been to Enchanted Rock three separate times, for multiple days, each time. There is still more to see and do, down there. That is, without question, one of the most photogenic places I have ever been to. All of that granite, pinks and reds …. just begs to be the backdrop for something special. There are several theories about how enchanted rock got its name, but, I tend to believe it is because it glistens in the moonlight when it clears after a rainshower or it has an abundance of pools of water.

Enchanted Rock State Park straddles the County Line between Llano and Gillespie Counties almost centered between Llano, Texas and Fredericksburg, Texas on Ranch Road 965. Absolutely one of the prettiest drives in the State of Texas, especially in Bluebonnet season. This year, I was unable to capture the beauty of the bluebonnets on RR 965 … There are no pull off areas large enough to safely pull a truck/trailer over. The few that were even close were occupied.

All over the area around Llano and Fredericksburg pink granite is jifting out of the ground. It is literally everywhere. While a dome this size is very unusual, it is clear that the granite is just below the surface all over the place in this area.

Campgrounds/Camping

Inside the park there are campsites for tents. There are no developed campgrounds inside the park. We haven’t tent camped out there, yet. We do plan on doing so, one of these days. I really want to do some night photography of the dome. Enchanted Rock is a “dark skies” area, so, the milky way heart will be visible.

There are at least five developed campgrounds, close by, that are all nice in their own way; and plenty large enough to accommodate pretty much any size rig. My personal favorite has a golf course closeby to it …. nothing better than an early round of golf while the wife shops in town, about 5 miles up the road. …. 😉

We have stayed at three different campgrounds on our trips to the area, in no particular order:

The closest is Oxford Ranch with full hookups. We loved it. The sites are in an open field, not all are completely level, but, weren’t too bad to deal with. I highly recommend this location for anyone looking for a campground in the area. Lots of roads for walking, lots of nature and wildlife to look at. Owners are very, very nice and it is relatively inexpensive. Both RV and tent campsites are available. They are on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Oxford-Ranch-Campground-LLC-130040763766079/

In Fredericksburg there is Fredericksburg RV Park which is actually walking distance to the downtown area. About 3/4 mile. We like to stay there and walk into town, have dinner, watch some live bands, drink a few wines and beers and walk back to the camper. Makes for a great way to end the day. Their website: http://fbgrvpark.com/

My favorite RV Park in the area (partly because of the golf course) is a municipal property in Fredericksburg called Ladybird Johnson RV Park. Beautiful park with lots of amenities, hiking trails, gardens, and very quiet. Website: http://www.fbgtx.org/343/Lady-Bird-Johnson-RV-Park

Photographs of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE!! ARRIVE VERY EARLY!!

Search

Suspension Bridges In Texas – On a quest to find them

Texas Suspension Bridges
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, HAER, Reproduction number TX-98

Really?? Suspension Bridges??

Wow …. as a matter of fact, it never really crossed my mind to consider suspension bridges, here. I always thought the Golden Gate Bridge to be beautiful, just never really considered that this state, Texas, would have a collection of them. When I was researching a trip we are about to make, I ran across a suspension bridge over the Colorado River, near the town of San Saba called Regency Bridge. Regency Bridge is named for a town that was once in the vicinity. The town of Regency really is more a collection of farmhouses, but, the bridge remains.

We have, so far, seen to several of the known and usable suspension bridges and a couple of the sites where pieces or dilapidated bridges remain. The only one we have seen, to date, that allows vehicular traffic, is regency. Beveridge is just up the road and is for foot traffic only. Waco has one for foot traffic. There is a dilapidated bridge or two just west of sherman, I have only found one, so far. In this post, we will gather all of the suspension bridges and sites; as well as, pictures and maps to the various locations.

Regency Bridge

We have approached this location from three different towns, on three different occasions. The shortest, most direct, approach is from San Saba – taking Texas 16 North from City Center then after 5 miles or so left on Farm to Market 500 to the northwest about 20 miles. County Road 433 will be on the right. See the included map for other options …. This bridge and area is a spectacular place for shooting photos of all types and the views from the bridge are awesome.

 

Search

Waco Suspension Bridge

Of all of the standing suspension bridges in Texas, Waco (1869) is the oldest. I might even argue it is the most photogenic. It has huge cables holding up its deck. And the restoration it has gone through was done really well. We were there, early, on a Sunday morning the one time we have been there, so far …. and the activities of people in the area were more than a little, well, intimidating, so we didn’t hang around long. We plan to return when there is a little more everyday activity in the area, like when things downtown are open for business.

 

Search

 

Choctaw Creek Suspension Bridge

Choctaw Creek is one of two Suspension Bridges I’ve heard about between Sherman and Bonham, Texas. Of the two, it is the on’y one I have actually found. Believed to have been constructed around 1915, it, as well, was clearly never meant to be used for vehicular traffic. Foot, horses, and maybe a small wagon were clearly its intended usage. Choctaw Creek Suspension Bridge is located a few miles east of Sherman just north and very near the right of way for US Highway 82, it is visible from the highway. Winter is the easiest time to spot it … there is a lot of undergrowth encroaching, at this point.  I really need to make an effort to get up to the location in the winter to get some additional shots, before nature takes its course.  I hold a tiny speck of hope that someone (Texas DOT or the county or the property owner) does something to save this piece of North Texas history.

 

Search

 

Beveridge Suspension Bridge

We’ve been to the Beveridge Bridge Several times. It is clearly a hit with the locals. We often see couples shooting photos, out there. Beveridge was built in 1896 as a single lane bridge to get farmers and commodities to market. It is just to the northwest of San Saba on County Road 200 about a mile past the “Wedding Oak”. It was permanently closed in 2004 and restored in 2005 as a pedestrian bridge.

 

Search

 

Clear Fork of the Brazos Suspension Bridge

Currently working on Media

The Road to Nowhere – Bryson City North Carolina

The Road to nowhere …. another unfulfilled promise between the federal government and ordinary people.

The Road to Nowhere - Bryson City North Carolina
The Road to Nowhere

In the 1930s and 40s people were displaced with the creation of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and further with the building of Fontana Dam and Lake Fontana. People of many small communities lost their homes and the highway that once took them to their communities was buried under the new lake. The federal government promised to build a new road to connect these displaced people to their community cemeteries that remain, to this day along the north shore of lake fontana. Construction of the road stopped when an environmental issue was exposed. The issue was resolved, however, construction never resumed. Legal issues surrounding road building were finally resolved in 2010 with a settlement where the Federal Government paid swain county North Carolina 52 Million Dollars instead of building the road. The road to nowhere is now simply a hiking trail complete with a half mile tunnel ….

Webpage

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Steam Engine 1702
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Steam Engine 1702 Preparing to Depart.

Smoky Mountain Railroad Introduction

Riding the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad was absolutely one of the major highlights of a recent trip we made to Bryson City North Carolina. It is pricey to do the first class ride in a dining car, but, without question well worth it. We moved all over the train from front to back. Closed cars/Open cars we went through a lot of rail cars. Every different kind of car had its good points and bad points.

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Video

Open Cars

Open cars are great! Feeling the wind (it wasn’t hot) hearing the clickety-clack and the horns. And the smells of the passing scenery. If it was a hot day, I am sure it wouldn’t have been great in an open car. One of the open cars was a food car … they asked us if we had eaten and we said “yes”.

Closed Cars

Closed cars are good too! Dinner in a fairly quiet, non windy, climate controlled space. Seats come with tables, so if you are toting stuff, there is space to put it. On a really hot or really cold day, I would much prefer to be in an enclosed car.

Links

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

We had such a good time, we have to recommend the ride. Well worth the price and the effort! I am really glad we did the meal that’s a long way to go and not have food ….. carry a snack if you do a non meal excursion. Absolutely wonderful way to spend several hours!!

LBJ National Grassland … Decatur, Texas

Great Spot for a Picnic - LBJ National Grassland
Great Spot for a Picnic – LBJ National Grassland

Introduction

Texas has, at least, three national grassland locations. There are two within a couple hours of our house, LBJ and Caddo. One east and one west from Dallas. We went out west to Decatur to LBJ National Grasslands. We are nearly equadistant from both so, it’s like flipping a coin deciding which one to go to.

National Grassland areas fall under the US Forest Service … the only difference between a national forest and a national grassland is exactly as the titles of each imply. Keeping areas of the plains protected is just as important as protecting forests. It’s the same concept, exactly. Protected ares with picnic/camping areas, hiking trails. We didn’t camp, we really just went to look around and do a little hiking.

LBJ National Grassland

The main thing one notices is the openness of it all. Wide open expanses of grass. Lots and lots of wildflowers, trails, really nice spots for meditating, picnics, quiet time, reflection or whatever your thing is. The wide open spaces that we visited were breathtaking in their own way, moreover, we were really lost in all of the simple beauty. We didn’t see everything there is to see because the expanse is so large.

It is clear that the land within the park is returning to a natural state, although, it is also clear that this land was inhabited by humans not so long ago. Remnants of structures, the odd gravestone, fences are a few modern non native things one might see. All in all, we intend to spend more time at grassland areas, particularly in the spring and early summer.

We are attaching some of our pictures from our visit below. Visiting a national grassland for the first time, as we were, we had no idea exactly what to expect.  What we found was well worth the time spent. It’s nice to know that we (collectively as Americans) are setting aside grasslands, as well as, forest lands for future generations.

Pictures

Search

Links

National Forest Service