Week 301 - San Antonio Lake, Art & Kelli - 05-20-2012

Hey Art, can you help me with the scooter?

Ellen's brother Art is a motorcycle enthusiast, to put it lightly. The scooter's 16,000 mile maintenance was due, and the list of service required was a couple of dozen items. This would be very expensive at the Suzuki shop. Pete could do this work himself, but did not feel comfortable with some the procedures. As Art currently has 59 motorcycles, Pete asked Art if we could come up to his house for his assistance. "Certainly", responded Art.

But, first we digress. Since November 2008 we have been members of SOWERs http://sowerministry.org/. The SOWER's claimed that you would meet some of your best friends at their ministry locations. And they were right. John and Rosie Stoner are now best friends. We met them first in San Diego, then Alaska and in Arizona. Currently, they are at a SOWER's project in Palmdale, CA. So, we each drove a 100 miles to meet for lunch in Santa Barbara. We could only spend a couple of hours because they were off to help with projects at their daughter's house in the LA area and then back to Palmdale. Go, you little beavers, go!

Back at home in Atascadero our son John and Harmony came for a visit. 1) John with their daughter Emma. 2) Harmony with their son Avery and 3) John with granddaughter Ashlyn.

Now back to Art. Sure, working on the scooter at the house would be fine. But, since Art and his beautiful bride Kelli live only a few miles from Lake San Antonio, Art suggested camping at the lake. Great!

Camping at San Antonio's North Shore can be with hookups in sites or anywhere you wish right on the beach. We chose sites with hookups and just a short walk to the water.

This sites have 30 amps and water and there are two dump stations you can use coming or going. The sites are pretty level and the roads are paved.

To break up the monotony of scooter repair, Art brought their boat. Mandy gives us her best impression of a ground hog in a water boat.

Campfires at night and shade in the day made it pleasant for Melissa on her birthday. She and her cousin Tyler sit with Ella who keeps a firm grip on Sam. In the boat with Melissa is her cousin Shay, Garrett and their son Rydin.

Hang onto your hats (too late; hair, also too late), it's time go to tubing.

Pete and Ellen give their best representation of the Comedy/Tragedy theater mask! Pete could also double as Jack Nicholson.

Melissa, cousin Lindsey and Ella get their chance on the tube. Hearing Ella's verbal command, Lindsay gives Art the thumbs up, "let's move it."

Ellen and Melissa take a ride in a piggyback mode.

Cousin Lindsey poses in the champagne bubbles.

16 mile long Lake San Antonio is used by all kinds of boats. Sailboats, pontoon boats . . .

house boats, personal watercraft . . .

ski boats, bass boats . . .

and R & R boats!

From the boat you can see Art and Kelli's house on the hill in the background.

Here is the opposite view from their house to the lake.

No trip to this area is complete without stopping by to see the latest addition to Art's collection. He collects, uh, uh, um ... everything.

But, he was missing a 1947 Diamond T flatbed truck. Got it! (just this weekend).

Here Art stands in the East Wing of his Lake San Antonio Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Not every bike is a classic as evidenced by this 2006 (7?) Beamer.

And that brings us back to why we came here, the scooter maintenance. Well, between the boat rides, BBQs and chit-chat, we got the Daughtership serviced and she's ready to roll another 4,000 miles. Speaking of motorcycles, many people do not know that they were mentioned in the Bible. "And Joshua's Triumph was heard throughout the land." Joshua 6:27

Thanks for taking your time to be with us and we hope to see you next week.

Love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy and a lot of Ellen's kin.

P.S. Art, no need to be envious this week, you were there!

This special edition travelogue was brought to you as there is nothing new in our travel.

Photos from May 2012