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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Finally home for the winter

I made it from the casino in Kinder, LA, to Winnie, TX, today by noon.  And it was a good thing.  It seems every time I near this location the winds along the coast pick up.  Today was no exception, and I knew by the forecast that a very wet front with possible severe thunderstorms was approaching.  I had a few showers along the way, but I was able to do a basic set-up before the rains began.

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As I said yesterday, I won’t be staying at the volunteer village on the refuge.  Instead, I set up in one of the two new volunteer sites in the Winnie maintenance complex.  This new facility was just finished this past January, and serves several refuges in the area.  The fact that I would be the first ever volunteer staying here made me a little apprehensive after Monday’s experience, but I needn’t have worried.

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Perhaps Bayou Cocodrie NWR could take a lesson on what a volunteer site should look like.  I just may send the volunteer coordinator there this picture.  Notice that the pad is paved with cement, has a large patio area, picnic table area, and very easy access in and out.  This site is a real beauty!  Bayou Cocodrie needs to understand that the site we stay in is our home, and shouldn’t be some hole in the wall place.

I was surprised to see huge chunks of red mud still falling off of the car after I arrived here.  I had tried to kick most of them off before I left Delhi.  I’m very relieved to be here, and have come to terms with declining the commitment to Cocodrie.

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Not all of the facility is paved with cement though.  There’s a nice trail with a pond, foot bridge and gazebo.

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In the picture on the right, if you look very closely you can just barely see my rig in the distance just to the right of the bridge railing.  I certainly won’t be seeing the wildlife at the rig that I would if I were staying on the refuge at the volunteer village, but compared to what my choice was earlier this week, it’s 100% better.

I’ll be meeting with Stephanie tomorrow, and the plan is to get me a refuge truck that I can use to do my bird surveys and other duties.  Eventually, I’ll need a little refresher on running the new VIS.  I have to admit that it was pleasant for me to recognize familiar places as I made my way here this morning.  It’s been two years.  Where does the time go?

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

47 comments:

  1. So happy this all worked out so well for you. I say, send that picture! It's true. A picture is worth a thousand words :)

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  2. Looks like great digs for the winter! Welcome home:)

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  3. Wow! Isn't that great how those stars align just when you need them to?!! So glad you're settled in to one of your favorite parks and also have MN lined up for next summer. No more worrying about substandard home sites for the next year!

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  4. LOVE your new spot! Fantastic! Very happy for you and Emma.

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  5. oh yippee. . .I will finally have an opportunity to meet you. . .yaaa!

    That is a fine looking spot for sure. . .good decision!

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  6. What a fabulous site you have. The pad with the picnic table is wonderful.

    I will take that lovely setting any day!

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  7. Dodged that bullet, that's for sure. Looks like a nice place to call home for a time.

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  8. Looks like you landed in a great spot! Life is too short to put up with a lot of c#$% (especially when you are volunteering!)

    Wishing you a good winter with no problems (you've had more than your fair share for awhile).

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  9. Looks like you landed in a great spot! Life is too short to put up with a lot of c#$% (especially when you are volunteering!)

    Wishing you a good winter with no problems (you've had more than your fair share for awhile).

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  10. What a lovely site..I'm sure you and Emma will enjoy your stay.

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  11. Welcome home, Judy. Looks like a great place to be.

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  12. So glad you got a good spot. That looks wonderful, much better than red mud. Enjoy!

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  13. Nice site, I think you made a good decision. You should have some birds visiting the pond.

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  14. So glad u are in a safe, warm place that you feel comfortable with. The site looks wonderful!! You should not be worried about the other place, you tried and you have to be comfortable with your surroundings. Have a GOOD Winter there!!! Looking forward to your pictures!!

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  15. I'm happy for you that you are all settled in a place that is so nice. You really sound upbeat now.

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  16. Judy:

    You didn't let the previous site down. they let you down. I'd say they dropped the ball big time. You made a commitment to them and they responded with an inadequate mud hole/dust bowl. You are right to put that place out of your mind and enjoy Anahuac NWR. You have much to offer them and they will appreciate having you there.

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  17. Wow, really nice digs! Has it really been two years? (where does that pesky time go?)

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  18. Glad you're settled. I'm looking forward to reading about your experiences there!

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  19. Glad you're settled. I'm looking forward to reading about your experiences there!

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  20. We went to Bayou Cocodrie today. The skeeters alone would have sent me packing. I can spray myself down for an afternoon but I would think that would get old pretty fast. Don't know what your new place is like, but I'm pretty sure you traded up. Did see some kind of raptor. Red-shouldered hawk maybe

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  21. This is a really nice spot for you to spend the winter.

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  22. It may have been a long ride with a few bumps along the way, but you wound up in a super site. Good luck with your new post.

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  23. That's one of the nicest sites I've seen anywhere!

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  24. Good move.... Looks like a very nice place to call home. btw I really like your "header" of the Missouri River valley. :)

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  25. When I first looked at the photo of your site I wondered why you were parked in front of the fence.... had to laugh at myself when I looked again... Looks like you have a great place for the winter.

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  26. You definitely made the right decision. So glad this is much better and more comfortable. Knew there would be a "good thing" coming your way! Looks divine! Enjoy your Winter home!

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  27. Nice spot Judy--you made the right decision. We struggled with our living space when Mike was working in Texas--beautiful RV park but the spaces were so incredibly close together and it was right on a busy, busy street. My niece put it best, "what were you thinking???"

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  29. Hi Judy, I read this article today and immediately thought of you. It's about photography at bird feeders. Hope you enjoy and it brings you many great pix at your new volunteer assignment.

    http://digital-photography-school.com/bird-photography-near-feeders

    Rosemary in PA

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  30. Boy...they went overboard on those new pads!!! WOW...you won't find anymore like that I'll bet. Enjoy.

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  31. No question this is much better. Welcome home!

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  32. Welcome home! Looks like a great spot to just be home and relax when not working/volunteering! Glad you moved on and ended up here!

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  33. Welcome home. Glad it worked out so well for you. It worked out well for us too. We will be traveling right by on our way to and from San Antonio for Thanksgiving. Hopefully we can meet up and get a tour of the refuge.

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  34. It seems to me it was Cocodrie NWR that didn't make an adequate commitment to you rather than the other way around. I'm glad you decided to take care of yourself and Emma instead of those people who couldn't provide well. Maybe they will learn and the next volunteer will be offered something much better.

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  35. Glad you're safe and sound in your new "home". Maybe since you're so close to the maintenance facility, one of those guys might take a look at your misbehaving wiper?

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  36. We stayed at the Red Shows Casino in Kinder LA. Look for an on line coupon. We got one that was stay 3 nights and get two free. Its a great RV Park

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  37. So happy you found such a nice alternative. The place looks great - and the paving makes housecleaning so much easier. Enjoy it. How long will you stay there?

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  38. Howdy Judy & Emma,
    The other bunch probably took the $$$ for building a nice site and went to the CASINO !!! They had probably never seen a REAL RV before and thought all campers were 'pop-ups'... That was why you were the FIRST VOLUNTEER they'd ever had.... Please, give Emma a pat & hug for us and enjoy that 'dinky' little place and THE TRUCK... Where will you put the BIRD-FEEDER?? No squirrels to FIGHT or RACKETY-COONS to wart Emma.... Y'all are in Volunteers Heaven !!!
    On a note of caution: that is a PUBLIC PLACE, so keep everything put away & LOCKED UP, while you work.... Happy for y'all....

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  39. Hey Judy, Great post. Like your "Rig". We had a 27 footer tow behind a few years ago. Too small and had no oven. This was discovered when I went to put something into it. When you know better you do better. Looking at a 5th wheel this time. Gonna take my time, give it a year to look around. I never realized there were so many possibilities. Like your houseless living.

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  40. What a nice place to call home for the winter! So glad to know you are happy and all settled in!
    Now we can sit back and enjoy all your beautiful photographs!

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  41. You scored on your new site. Enjoy your stay.

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  42. You did exactly the right thing in refusing to stay in the totally inadequate volunteer site. And look at the wonderful place you ended up. When we volunteer, we give a lot to the facility where we work. They need to appreciate us and give us a good place to call home (and most of them do, but not all).

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  43. Enjoying your blog - caught up the the last two from Port Aransas. I'm at a kayaking festival but the winds are too strong to paddle, so I'm enjoying birding with a few friends. Are best bird so far was a female American redstart but we seen a few other warblers, indigo buntings - just females and immatures, pie-billed grebes, osprey, oystercatchers, rudy and red-headed ducks, avocets, hords of great blue herons standing about 12 feet apart out of the wind, roseate spoonbills and lots of the common gulls, terns, and shore birds. j

    Your site looks like the Taj Mahal of RV sites. Are you working next Thursday? I'll be passing through, although I don't think I'll get to stop at Anahuac.

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