Part One - Part Two

"Tiny" Houseboat Hits the Road - Part Two

Sunday was actually a nice day. At first frustrated not having my boat in the water. I instead got into an available Puddle Duck. An icon of small boats, it is often labelled a box! This is correct but not if it is implying it's not worthy of serious sailing! My boat has some qualities in common and my next design is about the same size and a pram bow so an opportunity to sail it put a huge smile on my face. I was to take part in a marshmallow challenge but as the boat was on such a nice tack, I just kept going! Lug Rigs are also new to me and the experience convinced me my next sailboat will be so rigged. Dianne enjoyed a nice chat with Chuck while taking in the action on the beach. Further appreciation of the many unique boats and more chatting with proud boat owners occupied the rest of the day and then of course saying our goodbyes. Matt and Karen among them. Some we would see again in Port Aransas.

I was again my cranky self, to be in a hotel the last night, as it seemed a good idea to stay aboard the boat. This is when I end up bowing down to Dianne's keen intuition! As it turned out we were beside Chuck and his crew and received an invited to drop in for a chat. He was kind enough to extend an invite to his home on our way down to Port Aransas for a potluck and to see the heart of Duckworks' operation. And did it storm latter that night!!! I had dodged a bullet as Di would not have been impressed to be on the water for two storms! I guess things do have a way of working out!

Mon. morning we popped in one last time to the Boat Palace to help out a bit and give our thanks to Jackie and Mike. We were glad to hear they were planning to be in Port Aransas as well so for now it was just see you then, not goodbye!

Chuck had mentioned "TEXAS IS BIG" and it is, we finally made it to his place our second day on the road. He didn't mention how dry it was. I kept looking at the rivers, when crossing bridges, and more often than not there was no water! It is ironic that he, his wife Saundra and staff can contribute so much to the small boat movement so far from water (the nearby stagnant creek doesn't count)! Di and I had a lovely time and contributed cheese cake and ice cream (not all the way from Canada) for the pot luck! Michael Storer, Tom Pamperin, and John Welsford were also guests of Sandra, Chuck and their son. After a good night's sleep on the boat parked in the driveway, the morning was spent enjoying everyone's company and then we were off.

Port Aransas in our sights! It was HOT! Perhaps the hot road contributed to our first trailer tire blowout, but I'll admit to going a bit fast. After passing large trucks, going uphill, they would out run us going back down and I found myself stepping up the pace to stay ahead. Whatever the cause we were on the side of the road. Enough said. I had the right rim but the wrong tire, too small. It was good enough for us to limp into Boerne, just outside St Antonio, to find the correct tire! This town starts at one exit and ends at another! The first two tire stores had none. We were actually on our way back out of town having to turn around in a parking lot for another. We saw a TSC Store well back from the road and gave it a try. Great, two new tires on rims!!! As I was putting on the new tire a gentleman approached, "Are you Roy? Is that DIANNE'S ROSE? Are you DIANNE? I've watched all your videos and I'll be getting the plans when I finish up the camper I'm building"! Wow, how random was that. A big confidence boost and another minor miracle!

A couple days before the festival we drove the length of Mustang Island to finally arrive in Port Aransas. We were struck by the lack of trees on the island! Scrub bush and sand dunes made up the landscape, shade was non-existent! But the beautiful beach made up for it! We come from the largest freshwater beach in the world, Wasaga Beach, and it is the beaches here that took our breath away! Port Aransas too has its charm and does have trees, Palms planted no doubt. We discovered you can stay on the public beach for $12.00 a season as long as you move locations every three days. Wow, I know where we can hide from our cold winters on the cheap! Drawing boats maybe! Our beach long ago forbid cars driving on it so there was some nostalgia in being able to drive along this beach! Later exploring the town that loves the tourists (just like home) we enjoyed the seafood boil at Moby Dicks. Sperm whale jaw bones, "JAWS" teeth, model ships and real boats hung from the ceiling with fish nets strung between displays. It became our preferred dinner destination but the breakfast was to die for too! One order is more than enough for two people in case you get the chance and the atmosphere was great (no they didn't pay me to say this)! Our first night was spent right by the surf on the beach, which came close to the front bumper as I forgot about tides. The lights of the ships waiting to be unloaded in Corpus Christie looked like a floating city out on the Gulf! We slept well. It was the first night we didn't need the woodstove.

Thursday we moved into the camp ground near the beach side of town. Still affordable and with perks like, wi-fi, showers, laundry, etc. We cleaned the grime off the boat from all the road travel, readying her for display. It was our chance to further enjoy the beach as we would be busy at the festival the next three days. We walked the Pier and swam with the Dolphins! Ok I'm stretching the truth somewhat but we did see one from the Pier and several playing in the bow waves of the inbound ships. I also saw a large fin in a swell nearby as we swam! It looked like a Dolphin fish's fin, long and spiny, so I am not a complete liar. Seeing this made me wonder what else lurked below the surface, but we enjoyed our swim and I waited to tell Di what I saw till we were safe on dry land! And on dry land the boat stayed the remainder of our time in Texas as we decided she'd show best where people could walk around her! We still had time to visit FARLEY Boat Works, Rick Pratt was kind enough to show us the replica sailing scow they were working on. I have a sketch at home of a smaller version of this type that would make a very capable shoal draft sail cruiser so was keen to see this historic example! If our fore fathers felt this a worthy type, then scows have more potential than many give credit!

Friday morning it was still dark when we woke. We wanted to set up before the parking lot was too full as I need maneuvering room with the large van and boat in tow. We showed up before 6.00 am. The weather was ideal! There was time to walk the docks and enjoy the sun rising over the marina. Expensive yachts and fishing boats are always interesting to look at! Many fisherpeople were prepping and some were already heading out the break waters. The festival also set aside a dock to display some beautiful ply boats in the water. This is where we could have docked. It seems a constant wind blows here on the Gulf. This and the heat of the day keeps the bugs away but this early in the day was their only chance to feed and I am very generous to the hungry! They seemed to stay low to the ground, fearful of being blown away I suppose. My unprotected legs were covered. Dianne retreated to the van until the "buggy" time passed and we were designated a spot. The organizers were working hard with last minute duties as well as answering our inquiries!

Once up on the grass our set up was simple. A sturdy ladder to allow easy boarding and our dining table from onboard was used as an outdoor information center. It also protected people's shins from the trailer tongue. I had a couple chairs set up thinking we would sit outside but to heck with that! As soon as the sun started to bake us we retreated into the boat! With windows and doors open we sat comfortably in the shade and happily invited a steady stream of admirers to join us. This should put to rest the argument I hear from some that our boat is hot inside as everyone commented how cool it really was! A true test under the Texas sun! Dianne and I both alternated breaks and I had a great day viewing the other plywood boats and meeting many interesting people. I watched from afar as Di spoke to attendees of the show, she was very good at it! I found myself drawn to the family boat building course and checked on the progress whenever I got the chance. Here families had the chance to build a simple boat over three days and it would then offer fun times for many years! What a deal!

Saturday was likewise beautiful but there were rain clouds all around us at one point in the day. Nearby, Corpus Christi had flooding! It seems Texas wants the rain but when it comes the dry ground can't soak it up fast enough! The festival seemed blessed as these thunder clouds skirted by but never came near enough to be a bother. The sun was present most of the day! We were busy with giving lots of people tours. The Port Aransas Old Town Festival was also held this day and while we couldn't get to it, I'm sure we benefited from the swell in population.

I managed to get away to a couple presentations. Marty and Jamie Worline's spoke about their SCAMP, Fat Bottom Girl! They have taken her "fat bottom" on many adventures and were speaking about the Everglades Challenge. Tom Pamperin read exerts from his new book, "Jagular Goes Everywhere" and had me in stitches! I was fortunate to have won a signed copy of his book at Sail Oklahoma. I looked forward to reading it during the coming cold winter. There were many more topics of interest that many enjoyed but for Di and I this was a working holiday so we missed out.

Returning to the boat Dianne was entertaining a group and seemed to enjoy the stage life standing on deck! There was a banquet organized by our hosts and an awards ceremony. We won "Most Innovative Design"!!! I celebrated with our camp neighbor, John, back at camp. I was very happy that I can now call my design "award winning"! Dianne being more practical went off to shower as I christened my, Ok our winning cup.

Sunday the crowds dwindled and many owners were packing up. We too started cleaning up but still enjoyed some visits. A secret goal was to sell at least one set of Plans although the main reason we came was to spread the word about the boat and to make connections in the boatbuilding community. In this the festival was a great success! To sell a plan would help with gas money and would be a bonus. A few Study Plans were picked up so at least DIANNE'S ROSE had generated healthy interest. Dianne had spoken with an interested young gentleman, 22 (I don't sell to minors!) earlier. Jeff returned mentioning he was interested but concerned the boat would not be high enough inside as he stood 6' 2". Not having time earlier to board, he was pleasantly surprised when he entered to have more than 6" to spare and was excited to purchase a set. This was as we were ready to leave so we held off our departure until he returned with a payment, thank you Jeff! Another minor miracle!

Chuck extended an invite to visit down the coast but Di and I felt he and Sandra may be tired and did not want to impose. Frankly we were tired too and decided to start back home. At the time I did not want to push my luck by suggesting to Dianne that we take an extra couple of days to drop the boat in and go explore. We had already stretched the trip by a week, but as it turns out I should have taken the kind invite. We would only have needed some advice and a boat ramp! Now home, I regret not floating my boat in salt water, a rare chance. She would have floated higher and this would have been a great test to see the comparable performance between salt and fresh waters.

A bit nervous in front of crowds I also regretted during the awards ceremony that my acceptance speech neglected to thank a few important people! Now that I've had some time to prepare I will try again.. "I'd like to thank my wife, Dianne, without her support and inspiration, I would not have won this award! Also my buddy Mike who got us here with the generous loan of a vehicle! I must especially thank Chuck as he invited us to come! I wouldn't have considered it otherwise! I think DIANNE'S ROSE was one of many Queens at this Royal Ball!!! And to the organizers of the festival, please accept our thanks, you did a great job and I know it will only get better in future years! We definitely won't be able to make it next year though. unless a few small miracles change our mind!"

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Roy

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