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Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, May 18, 2012

Bad news and Good news

I had a very nice adventure today that I’ll talk about in a little bit, but first I want to get the bad news out of the way.  My plan for tomorrow morning was to take a nice paddle on the lake in my inflatable kayak.  So late this afternoon I dragged the Sea Eagle out of the basement storage area along with the paddles and the air foot pump.  I had decided to pump it up tonight so tomorrow all I had to do was get it down to the water, and hop in.  As I went to take it out of the storage bag, I discovered that a mouse had eaten a hole the size of two golf balls in the side of the kayak.  Of course that mouse, which probably did that while I was at Anahuac, didn’t touch the three seat backs that were in the bag.  Nope, it chewed the side of the kayak!  Grrr!!  I don’t think there is any way to patch a hole that big, so I guess I’m literally sunk.  Phooey!  What a bitter disappointment that was.

On the bright side, I drove to Warm Springs, GA, this morning to visit FDR’s Little White House.

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This State Historic Site is managed by the Georgia State Park system, and includes the residence, grounds, museum, and pool complex.

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President Roosevelt had The Little White House built so he could enjoy the warm springs here in hopes of curing the debilitating effects that he suffered from Polio.  He made 41 trips to Warm Springs before and during the time he was president.

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The Little White House is in the middle of the bottom right picture.  The building on the right is the servants quarters, and the building on the left is the guest house where many important dignitaries stayed.  Interestingly, Eleanor seldom accompanied Franklin when he came here.

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All of the states in the union, and Washington DC, have paid tribute to FDR by providing stones in his honor.  Each native stone along with the appropriate state flag line the walk way.  This walk was an education in itself.

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On April 12, 1945, Madame Elizabeth Shoumatoff was working on a water color portrait of FDR as he posed in the living room of his retreat.  As he was posing, he suffered a massive stroke, and died shortly afterward in his bedroom.  Madame Shoumatoff immediately quit working on that portrait and never finished it.  This famous “Unfinished Portrait” is hanging in the museum.  A year later, the artist painted another portrait from memory and photos in oil, and it too hangs in the museum.  A difference between the two is that she changed the color of his tie.  The room with these portraits has other poignant displays about FDR’s passing while “Going Home” plays in the background.  I found it to be very moving as I remembered how my parents held FDR in such high regard.  He was only 63 when he died.

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A short distance from the museum and Little White House are the spring-fed pools where President Roosevelt took treatments in the water with other polio victims.  There is also a small museum attached explaining the facilities and including Roosevelt’s founding of the adjacent Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute.  As you can see, the pools are empty now.

But here’s the really good news… twice a year the pools are filled with the 88* warms springs water from 3800’ below the earth’s surface and the public can purchase tickets to participate in a therapeutic soak for an hour and a half.  This opening of the pools will take place over the Memorial Day Weekend, and I found I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to soak in this historic place.  So, a week from Saturday, I will join a limited number of other people for a soak from 10:00-11:30!  By the time I finish I just know all my little aches and pains will be gone, so I’m taking myself out to lunch at a well known Inn in Warm Springs to enjoy some tasty fried green tomatoes and other Southern delicacies. Winking smile

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

35 comments:

  1. Oh so sorry about your Sea Eagle! Damn mousies! What an interesting place to visit, and we hope your soak will cure everything that ails you! I remember vividly hearing about FDR's stroke! I was seven, and of course I didn't know what a stroke was, but my parents were deeply moved, so I was too. Thanks for bringing that back into my active mind, whatever part of it is still active.

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  2. Ahhhh, those hot springs are going to feel soooo good!
    Teri
    Markteri.blogspot.com

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  3. Can't you contact the Sea Eagle company and get aGiant patch?

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  4. Again, I learned new things on your blog. Enjoy the hot springs. I can't wait to hear all about it.

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  5. Hey Judy:
    Not sure what model Sea Eagle you have, but fellow RVers, Tim and Crystal who run InflatableBoats4Less sell the SE330 "a la carte" for $129. Here's the link to the page (it's about 1/2 way down on the right side). http://inflatableboats4less.com/boats/sea-eagle-330-sport-kayak

    You might also try calling Sea Eagle headquarters (or sending a pic with an email) just to see what they could advise on patching viability. Worth a shot!

    I love my Sea Eagle boats, and with that gorgeous lake you're looking at, I'd be going crazy not to be able to get out on the water! Good luck!

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  6. Re your kayak ~ how very disappointing to find the damage to your kayak. Out of curiosity, I googled around and found this site suggested as a resource to ask about patching.

    http://www.theboatpeople.com/

    I hope you could get in touch with them and see if your kayak could be repaired.

    Love your blog, photos and good sense of humour :)

    Liz

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  7. So sorry to hear about the kayak just when you were getting ready to finally enjoy it. Have a wonderful soak in the warm springs.

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  8. Those dang mice will do it every time!

    Great tour. I always learn so much when I visit historic site. Wish I knew as much as I do now when I was in school. I might have earned an A in history.

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  9. I'll bet there's a patch kit around somewhere. You can't be the only kayaker with mice!

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  10. How disappointing about your Sea Eagle! Those darn mice can be so destructive. Hope you can repair it.

    Looking forward to hearing about your soak in the warm springs!

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  11. Contact Sea Eagle. They will help you,

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  12. Aw, man, so sorry to hear about your boat... hmmm, we'll have to check our tandem Sea Eagle when we get our furniture out of storage! Hope you can get your kayak patched.

    Way to go, Judy, on snagging an official soak in a presidential pool. You really are one lucky lady - never mind mice.

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  13. Too bad about the kayak but it must be repairable. Have a nice soak in the hot springs.

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  14. That is really sad news about your Sea Eagle. sure hope there is some way to repair it. But what an experience you have to look forward too. That soak isn't something you get a chance to do everyday!!

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  15. Good timing on the hot springs pool. Enjoy your time in the warm water.

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  16. I hope the mouse who ate your kiyak is no longer eating things.

    Enjoy your soak.

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  17. Bummer!..I always wondered why they eat stuff like that...my husband says it is how they keep their teeth sharp. Mice and pack rats can do some damage for sure..

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  18. A week from Saturday you will certainly be soaking up some extra history alright.....

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  19. How disappointing about your kayak; is there anything the mice won't chew on? I remember watching a TV movie called Warm Springs (several years ago) and now that I've read your visit, we'll be sure to stop and check it out for ourselves when we get that-a-way. Enjoy the soak :-)

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  20. Judy, Call Sea Eagle and see if you can send it in and have a panel replaced at the factory, surely be a lot cheaper than buying a whole new Kayak.As for those infidel mice,I can see a death sentence in their future. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  21. Durn mice! I agree, call Sea Eagle. Can't wait to hear about your soak. Let's see just how well those mineral waters work!

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  22. Sorry to hear about your Sea Eagle those mice can do some real damage. Thanks for the history lesson and enjoy your soak.

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  23. Dang mice--destructive little critters and nasty!

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  24. Geez, I sure am glad we have been keeping our Sea Eagle in the car..but it makes me wonder what else they could be eating under the bays! Time for a cleanout! So sorry to hear about that, that would make me just want to throw up! INteresting to hear about FDR's place.

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  25. Darn mice! That sure ruined a fun plan. Hope Sea Eagle can make a repair.

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  26. That was a fantastic post on FDR's little White House. I have to see this place. Sad to see how all the burdens he carried with the war aged his face beyond his years.

    Enjoy that soak, sounds like a real treat!

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  27. I'd really like to see Warm Springs. I too am an admirer of FDR and think this recession called for some WPA/CCC type efforts to put people back to work doing things the country actually needs done.

    I'll be looking forward to your blog on the hot springs what a great opportunity. You do some manage to do some really wonderful things.

    We had the mice sea eagle problem too and contacted Tim from whom we bought the boat. Our chewing was on a seam and because of that it couldn't be repaired. If yours isn't on a stream and the hole isn't TOO big, they might be able to do it. Send Sea eagle or them a picture of the hole and see what they say. Hope yours can be repaired. I hate to think of you not being able to kayak when you are at great spots like this one. Sadly, We had to buy another one. :-(((.
    Guess we'd better move it into the trunk of the toad and out of the bay. I'm afraid to go look at it. We haven't used it in a while.

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  28. So sorry about the issue with the dastardly mice! Surely one of the many suggestions you've gotten will be the answer for a repair to the kayak though!!!

    You have such a grand way of telling about your visits to historical places! I'm so very jealous about that soak! I'm certainly hoping it's a magical experience for your aches and pains and they're left in the water when you step away!!

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  29. It really sucks pond water about your kayak...Speaking of yak, I hope that mouse got sick on the plastic. Den was stationed at Saratoga Springs NY during his stint in the Air Force. They are famous for their hot springs too...I really envy you the "soak"...Do you all soak together??? Knowing me, I would crack a joke and get thrown out of the place..I can't wait to see the photos and read your blog about that!

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  30. So sorry about your Sea Eagle! I'm curious what you find out about the repair possibility.

    Do RVers leave poison of any kind in their outside storage spots? I've only had one mouse (that I know of) and it was just for a few days. I was lucky. But when the weighing people were here last week, he found a wire under my steps that had been stripped of it's insulation and some other "blown" insulation was chewed, so there was damage I never would have found. Makes me wonder what else he chewed.

    How wonderful that you are going to soak in the presidential hot spring. That's wonderful! You volunteer so much, though, you really deserve some perks.

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  31. I can't imagine being Eleanor and not taking advantage of that spring every chance I got. I'm glad you are getting and taking that chance.

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  32. Judy, I would call the Sea Eagle people and see if there is anything that can be done. Maybe not but might be worth the phone call. Taking a soak in the springs sounds like a great idea.

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  33. What a neat place to visit and such history there. Hope you can find a resolve for your sea eagle.

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  34. He never brought his wife there cause that is where he hung out with the lady he was cheating on her with.

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  35. So people don't think I am a crackpot.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Page_Mercer_Rutherfurd

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