Sunday 22Mar20 Top it off with a Kayak
Day 66
Woke up at 8 to a cloudy and cool morning.. After the usual breakfast I got on the road to Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Visitors Center was closed but many areas of the park were available. I first took both dogs for a walk but after a bit I took Pete back to the RT and then just took Wiggin on a pretty good walk. At first we took a dirt trail that lead to the shoreline. I was surprised that the shore was covered with tall grass all the way to the water. There also were no waves. I guess that makes sense since the area is actually a bay.
Next we walked out on a pier that was next to a marina which was closed After a bit a couple came out on the pier and started fishing. They had been in the area for about a year. He was currently working for Chevron. A few years ago he was working in Kuwait but they ran all the Americans off at some point. They then had a business as outfitters somewhere in Mexico. Apparently that didn't work out so he came back to the States and found the job with Chevron. I asked about any historical sites in the immediate area that I should see but they said that most were further east. There were a lot of tiny black biting nats and they were very annoying to the point it was not bearable to stay there. I went back to the RT and decided to drive on to Mobile Alabama. I stopped at the Alabama Welcome Center but it was closed.
Just west of Alabama I stopped at a Tractor Supply store and fill up with propane. While there I got online to find the closest Academy Sporting Goods store. The kayak that I am interested in is a pretty good value at $199. They also have an adjustable double oar for $29.
I got to the store and they actually had the kayak I was interested in so I bought it and the oar. I also bought a couple of noodles to put on the ladder rack to protect the kayak.
I spent the rest of the day adjusting the ladder rack and preparing it for the kayak. I had to move the forward cross member about a foot forward and the aft cross member about 3 feet forward. Last summer I engineered the mounting clamps that secure the cross members to the rain gutter of the RT. That kind of endeavor is what I enjoy most in life. There is no doubt in my mind that I inherited this from my Dad. He could design some of the most amazing gadgets. There wasn't anything that he couldn't repair. I have learned so much from him.
After I had the ladder rack prepped for the kayak the big test came. Could I actually get the kayak on top the RT by myself. It was actually pretty easy getting it up there and in position. The hardest part was securing it. The front straps are accessible if I open the third passenger's door and stand on the seat. Getting the aft staps attached was a lot more difficult. I will have to come up with a better solution some time in the future.
After getting the kayak secured I drove to a nearby Walmart and parked for the night. I nuked a couple of burritos for dinner and watched some TV.