Nic’s Road Totes
We hit the road enough that I’ve discovered what groceries work well for us and are easy to bring along. Andrew requires gluten-free products and they are not always available so they make the trip with us. These bags tote our staples:
Nic’s International Kits
Nic’s International Kits
Nic’s International Kits carry – on
I won’t say we travel light, but we travel with a good balance and try to bring what we need, but limit the extras. Most hotels have toiletries, and I have found them available within a short distance of anywhere I have stayed. I purchase the travel size at my destination if I need to.
A large bottle of bath oil leaked in my luggage once. Since that time I have not traveled with full size toiletry items, even if I am not at the top of the weight allowance for luggage. I place a Ziploc bag around the items in my kit, another one around the outside of the kit, then place the kit in the plastic compartment in my luggage, away from my clothes. I have only had one minor leak since the disaster. There were a few paper towels around the items that absorbed most of it. The rest was contained and did not spread beyond the toiletry bag.
Being an organized shopper and picking these things up when I am already there, or nearby, is much more pleasurable to me. They are available in a variety of places; markets, department stores, salons, beauty supply shops, spas, and I have even scored some hair products (shampoo and conditioner) from my gym. I am not too fussed about having my favorite products; although they are available in trial size. I enjoying trying the new ones, but I will ask for a sample of my favorite perfume when I am at the department store.
My Travel Kits and their ingredients are all listed in other posts. For international voyages I combine all of my kits into two, which include; Toiletries, First Aid, Pharmacy, and Vanity. The smallest one fits easily in my handbag and the larger one will be stowed within the luggage I check below. I inquire into current regulations to leave out anything that is not welcome by security from carry-on.
In the carry-on, I include the Vanity, a Dental Kit, and a few items from the First Aid and Pharmacy. Before boarding a plane, I purchase a bottle of water or refill the one I have. It’s helps to stay hydrated, and I use it to brush my teeth with after meals. On the long flights, to refresh, I use the wet cleansing clothes with make- up remover and the lens wipes for my glasses. I always stock tissues, and ibuprofen.
I always travel with some, if not all of the ingredients from this. While on a hike at Canyon of the Eagles at Lake Buchanan; one of the Highland Lakes, in the Texas Hill Country, Andrew grabbed a cactus to get a closer look at its pretty flowers. The tweezers were handy for getting the needles out of his hand. (@_@)
The main ingredients are listed here.
Nic’s RX Kit
Nic’s Vanity Kit
I keep separate cosmetics for traveling (they last a long time and are ready to go) I bring this with me in my handbag or carry-on to have with me for overnight flights, or in the event we have a unexpected stay- over.
Nic’s Picnic Backpack
It was designed as a picnic backpack. It has lightweight dishes with organized compartments. There is a lot of room with three areas that zip shut, two large and one small. Of course there is a bottle opener that lives in there, and two external side pockets; one for a wine bottle. :- ) It came with two mini stemmed glasses that have their own place to live in. This was one of my best purchases and even has small salt and pepper shakers, and a cutting board. It has cutlery, and I keep a few sets of disposable utensils in there. There is room for Vivas, my favorite paper towel, and extra tissue rolls that vacation rentals do not always have. This one varies and I tend to research ahead of time to see if I need to add anything else. It may include any cooking oils, marinades, and grilling utensils that we may need.
In general, this is what lives in the kit.
Key Allegro Canals Photo by Nicki Hurd
We parked on the outside of the gate of the parking lot to prevent our Kia from getting locked in at 5:00 pm, as instructed by Anna from Rockport Birding and Kayak Adventures, who was a great help. I was happy that clouds were overhead saving us from basting in the sun. After loading our water bottles in and carrying the kayaks into position to set off …. the local watching over the domain approached us to warn us that a storm was coming in and it would be best if we wait until it passes. He was getting frustrated between staying with the call on his mobile and convincing us. We waited out the storm, and were eager to set off once we returned and re-positioned the Kia
Key Allegro and Rockport Beach Park seperate Little Bay from Aransas Bay. It may have been quiet on the water because of the storm that had passed. We only encountered the power boats in the bay as the kayaks swept through the tranquil waterway across Little Bay to the canals. We stayed along the sides to avoid contact and the wake. At the edge of a long pier in Little Bay, a man was casting his rod out a great distance from where he stood…the look on his face and perhaps his overenthusiastic effort hinted that he may not have been too successful that day.
The next angler was calling out enthusiastically to someone, and gave the impression there was something to see at the end of his hook. A couple of poised Herons posed themselves so well that at first it was difficult to tell if they were real or a statue until they changed positions. As we stroked through the canals, we could see very large jellyfish at the surface, but they must have caught our eyes; they would retreat and sink as soon as we spotted them. My seat was soon soaked from splashing in a significant amount of water while paddling… may have to work on my technique. It was a nice cooling effect but I was grateful that I brought clothes and would not have to be dripping as we gathered the items from the market for our dinner later.
Bottlenose Dolphin photo by Andrew Leggett
Generally, I am awake very early on holidays and bouncing off the door anxious to get out and about, but I was still waking up as we set off on the Sunday 9:00am Dolphin Cruise from Fulton Harbor on the Skimmer with Caption Tommy. He also does a Whooping Crane Tour when the cranes are wintering on the coast, and enjoying the Blue crabs. If you would like a ride it is best to call. The morning jaunt was not listed on the site when I looked. 877-892-4737 361-729-7409 http://whoopingcranetours.com/
As we headed out to the gulf, it was clear that captain Tommy, a naturalist, knew what he was doing… find a shrimp boat and there would be dolphins following. We spotted the fins of an adult and calf jumping and playing. Within minutes we were surrounded by these lovely mammals, including at least two different species.
It was a challenge to catch the face of these Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as the boat rocked. I decided to visit the loo but soon changed my mind when I realized that when I wasn’t looking out… I began to feel nauseous and then understood what he meant by “hold on to your kittens”. Fortunately we were at the end of the stalking. The agitating stopped as we jetted back to shore. September 1, 2012
The Goose Island Oak Photo by Nicki Hurd
The big Tree of Lamar is said to be a survivor of extreme weather, climatologists estimate this tree has endured forty to fifty hurricanes, floods, wildfires and droughts.
This charter member of the Oak Society of America is located on the Lamar Peninsula near Goose Island State Park. It is estimated to have been anchored here for between one and two thousand years, and it may be one of the oldest oak trees. Age is determined by radiocarbon dating, or counting or cross-referencing tree rings. The Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), is a species of Oak trees that grows from Texas to Florida, and up to Virginia. The gulf breeze limits the height of oak trees. The Big Tree is more than 45 feet tall and has a crown spread of 90 feet. It is big because of its girth not height, the circumference is over 35 feet.
The horizontal length of the branches (in botany limbs are called the ramus and the large branches are known as boughs) of oak trees is bewildering to me…the core strength the limbs must have. They look like they are defying gravity. Trees are much stronger in the vertical axis than they are in the horizontal, because the cells at the tree trunk are long, skinny and have a tremendous amount of beam strength, which allows the tree trunk to hold up numberous branches.
Classified as the Champion Live Oak in Texas, this beautiful Live Oak is showing its age. The boughs are supported and it has a lightning conductor. It has been treated for pest and disease. There is a fence surrounding it, allowing it some space, to keep us pests away…as it is almost impossible to resist the temptation to sit and lean against it and meditate on all that has gone on around this mighty oak, to touch and congratulate the Big Tree for persevering and trying to discover its secret. August 31, 2012