2025-5-17 Rockport Rally - Day 2/3

The other separate event that happened in conjunction with the Rockport rally was the RVW Booth at the 25th Annual Babes on the Bay Fishing tournament. When TRR chapter members signed into the rally on Thursday, many of them also signed on to help with the RVW booth. Elaine, Teri, Shelley, and I headed over bright and early on Friday morning to set up the booth. Everything was loaded into Elaine's big truck including us. You know how things always seem to crop up when you RV, that was the case here. We got the canopy frame set up and guess what? The cover was missing from the case. It was a brand new in a fancy canvas bag canopy that someone gave Elaine but the cover was not in the bag. So on the phone and then off to Ace Hardware we went. We purchased a new heavy duty canopy and headed back. Teri has lots of experience with canopies so we were able to get it set up without any further problems.

The Texas Ramblin' Roses lent us the chapter banner, Wilderness Oaks lent us concrete blocks to weigh things down for the predicted winds, we set up a couple tables, and we were nearly ready.

We added a tablecloth, hung some TRR shirts for decorations, and put out magazines and some RVW flashlights to hand out. I also added some sheets with RVW talking points to make sure the booth managers had all the details they needed.

Did I mention that this is the 25th annual Babes on the Bay Fishing tournament which is for women only. Great place to showcase RVW right?! Some of the teams really get into the team costumes when they show up to sign in on Friday afternoon. I couldn't resist.

Most of the group headed over to Panjo's Pizza and Pasta in Rockport for lunch. Could have sworn that I took pictures of the group but they have disappeared. Anyway, we took up about 3 long tables. The pizza and other Italian dishes are great.

We also had an RVing Women team entered in the tournment. L to R, Anne Moursund, Jimmie Andrews, Shelley Freeman, and Eva Joy Kirten sported their Babes T-shirts and hats at the TRR group dinner held at the Poor Man's Country Club.

Between Friday and Saturday, about 20 different women handed out magazines, flashlights, and information at the booth. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of all of them supporting RVW.

While our team did not win any prizes, they did catch fish, just not the right size redfish, and had a great time doing it. They also got a lot of nice event swag.

Some of our chapter members turned up for the closing event Saturday night while others who manned the booth Saturday morning, took a Sunset cruise on the bay.

2022-07-16 TRR Rally Demo and Pizza Party

 Saturday morning, coffee was ready at the rally room at 0830 and demonstrations started at 0900. I talked about the GEO method for maintaining your waste tanks and showed everyone how to make the solution using Pinesol, Calgon Water Softener, and water in a gallon container. I've used this very successfully for many years with no smell or clogs. Next up were Jimmie Andrews and Marla Loring demonstrating their solar generators. Jimmie has a smaller one and Marla has a large one which is very heavy. It was very clear to all that solar generators are not really generators but more like large batteries. Both women had solar panels referred to as suitcase types but again, they were different. Both could be charged via an electrical plug and a 12 volt plug in a vehicle in addition to the solar panels. 

Jimmie talked about knowing how many watts each appliance you want to use takes to run and pointed out that you could find that info on the appliance itself. Both women had various appliances that could be used with their solar generators. Contrary to what many people believe, solar generators generally are not large enough to run air conditioners. We all learned a lot this morning.

After the planned programs, sightseeing and lunch were again on the agenda. Elaine, Mary, Marla, Barb, and I decided to check out the Rockport Marketing Days. It was packed but we lucked out and got a parking place just as someone pulled out. There were lots of crafts and food available.

We also checked out the Castaways Thrift shop recommended by Jimmie. It was a very popular place with a long check out line so we looked by didn't buy anything. Then we went to Benchwarmers/Hudat restaurant also recommended by Jimmie. We gave her a call to verify that she was talking about this restaurant and she met us there. It's a unique place with two restaurants combined so the menu is very large and unique. They have everything from burgers to seafood to oriental food. We all ordered different food and it was great. Definitely a keeper. 

I headed out about 5:15PM to pick up the pizzas for dinner while Barb made a huge salad to go with them. We usually do potlucks on Saturday night but pizza and salad has been a popular change at all our Rockport rallies since it is usually hot. 

The group photo was scheduled for promptly at 6PM. Jimmie instituted the take it right at the time scheduled while she was president. Otherwise those that show up on time end up standing in place forever waiting on those who are late.......so, our picture includes those who were at the rally room at 6PM.

Pizza was good and plentiful and so was the salad. There were a few other items as well since our ladies always like to bring things

Quite a few of us headed to the pool as we did every evening" Nan led a water aerobics class which was a lot of fun. The salt water pool was very relaxing end to the evening.

Final Days at the Rockport Flocking

Sunday we visited the Old Fulton Seafood Café and Deli for lunch. We were a little surprised when the GPS led us to a restaurant in a strip mall; however, when we went inside it was nice. They have a very high rating from several sources like Trip Advisor. Our waiter told us that they were located on the beach in Fulton until Hurricane Harvey. Everyone agreed the food was great and so was the service. MJ was the last one served, a bit after the rest of us....the waiter apologized and said he didn't like the way the first plate looked so he had them redo it.
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Next on our agenda was a visit to the Fulton Mansion. From this picture, you really don't see much damage.

But then, a view of the roof changes things. Hurricane Harvey occurred over a year ago but the Rockport-Fulton area is still recovering. The hurricane tore off several chimneys which opened holes into the roof. Right now, all the furniture is wrapped up in the center of each room. Walls had to be replastered and it was too wet to do that for some time. By then the first roof contractor was no longer available so new bids had to be sent out. The mansion is open and you can see more of the details of the walls and trim without the furniture blocking the view. Entry is free until the repair work is complete and it is definitely still worth a visit.

The Education and History Center along with the gift shop are in great shape. We had a great time watching two young girls dress this manikin from the skin out. They were shocked at how many pieces of clothing the ladies had to wear.

We also toured downtown Rockport. Almost all of the stores are repaired and open. This lovely mural is on the wall near the coffee shop on the main street.

Most of our group left on Monday morning but Carolyn, Mary Jane, and I stayed several more days before we headed east to another RV rally but that is another story. We gave the Apple Dumpling Deli a try for lunch and would definitely recommend them. Think about splitting a sandwich like Mary Jane and I did as they are huge!

Our last afternoon, we spent some time painting some rocks. Sorry, no pictures of those. We also tried one more time to have supper at Steer Burger. Once before during this rally, and once at a previous rally, we managed to catch them on a day they were closed. They have a really high rating and prices are reasonable. Their rating is very well deserved......great burgers. You order your burgers from the stand outside and they bring them to you inside a house with picnic tables.

Our goal for this rally was to get together with friends and have a good time while we helped the Rockport community in their recovery from Hurricane Harvey. Please visit.....you will find lots of businesses for shopping and great restaurants. They put their initial efforts into rebuilding their tourism areas. Residential areas still need work and recovery there is ongoing. We met a new member for our group....Marlene. She was in town to help with rebuilding efforts as a part of this group. They still need lots of help and you can work as much or as little as you want. And they can definitely make use of any skills you have from data input, answering phones, to carpentry, etc.

Farewell to Many

Lots of people were leaving on Monday so we sat around for coffee and goodbyes. Some who stayed had laundry to do or chores around the RV.  You know, just ordinary life things that we all have to deal with from day to day. Later on in the day, Mary Jane, Sharon, Claudia, and I decided we would go back to Moon Dog for dinner.

It wasn't quite as good as our first visit. We sat on one of the covered patios. The wind was blowing in pretty hard so one of the help offered to close down the glass garage type door. Great.....but then he disappeared and forgot to do it. The waitress couldn't seem to remember we were there either. The food was okay but not as good as it was the first time we were there. Darn.

Anyway, I did manage to get some decent pictures of the boats around the restaurant so I will leave you to enjoy them.

 

Still managed to have a good time with good friends so it was a good day.

The Historic Fulton Mansion

I was in Rockport about four years ago and looking forward to seeing the Fulton Mansion but it was covered in scaffolding during a huge remodel so I was glad for the chance to come back.

The house was built between 1874 and 1877 by George Fulton and his wife Harriet and was originally called "Oakhurst". It is French Second Empire style with plank walls and shell aggregate basementand a mansard roof.

The tour starts in a building behind the mansion with a lot of historical information.

Not surprising that cattle ranching started it all although you don't always think of that when you are on the coast.

The laundry room was in the basement of the mansion but it was pretty light since a good part of the basement sits above the ground.

Pantry storage room.

The fuel storage room was unique since few houses had central heat like the Fulton Mansion. This was only one of the many innovative features of the house.

This room is the larder which is like a refrigerator where perishable food was stored. The walls were thick and water circulated around blocks of ice.

Next up is the butler's pantry with a description below.

The dining room included the Fulton's original china which had a rose band pattern and the letter "F" on it. Several of the chairs were originals.

The fireplaces were the heat registers where the central heat was ducted from the Coleman furnace in the basement. Each one was finished differently and were very ornate.

I think this was the office/library.

There was a small conservatory for plants.

This is the master bedroom.

This is part of the Holden bedroom where the two daughters would stay when they visited. Annie and Hattie married two brothers....Eldridge and Charles Holden.

One of the rooms was left in the unrestored state so you could see how extensive the renovation was.

Another view of the Holden bedroom.

The Fulton House has two and a half bathrooms with hot and cold running water and three flush toilets with a septic tank buried outside.

Rainwater was collected on the roof for the copper-lined tub.

The sitting room.

The tour was very interesting. We noted in the renovation room that a trailer park was located on the front lawn of the house prior to when the state took it over in 1979.  Had to include a shot of Carolyn in Anita's Slingshot as that is how she traveled over to see the Fulton House.