Sweet Caroline Gets a New Home -- Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Sweet Caroline had her own garage nestled under the roof of our house in Port Isabel, but when we moved to Houston, she was too big for our parking spaces under the condo.  What to do?  Maybe our RV'ing days should wind down, and travel become another mode.  

With reasons to travel to Avinger in Northeast Texas from time to time, it makes sense to have accommodations there.  The town is too small to have a hotel, so Sweet Caroline will become our condo there.  On Wednesday, March 15, she says Goodbye to Lisa, Angela, Joe and Rita at Advanced RV Park and points her nose north.

Herb parks her alongside our building in Avinger to leave the area behind available for the concrete man to assess.  She takes up many parking spaces on our lot that we allow guests of the steak house restaurant a couple of door down to use during the evenings. Herb opens the garage door to access the electrical for power.  Soon full hook-ups are available and we are 'home' once again.

Our friend Pam, City Secretary, parks her black car at the corner, which is convenient to her office at City Hall next door to our building.

Potholes at the end of our property seem to be getting worse.

As a safety measure, Herb strings caution tape across the sidewalk to warn people who are used to using our sidewalk that there are slides out, so they should go around the outside and not risk bumping into a slide.

Herb and I had this mural of the old town Avinger painted on a billboard to add to the flavor of the annual Wildflower Trails festival held in April.

Work begins on Sweet Caroline's new home.  First a concrete slab will be poured.  I am amazed at how many steps it takes for this project.

Some of the asphalt parking lot had to be broken up.  Strong men take turns slinging a sledge hammer.  I'm sure they will sleep well tonight.

The Bobcat drills to help the demolition process.

Bobcat does a wheelie.

Not only will Sweet Caroline have a smooth site on which to sit, she will have a fence for privacy.  Posts are being set now.

When the asphalt pieces are cut, some are lifted by a shovel and then carried by hand to the truck for hauling away.

Rebar is placed for reinforcing.

Finally, concrete flows.

And flows....

Rubber boots wade in the mix.

Smoothing begins.

Cutting expansion joints.

Did I forget to say just how hot the temperature is on this Spring day?  These men have worked so hard, and we offer them water.  Herb has a good idea, also; he offers them a 'coh beer.'  Several accept -- one refuses, as he says he is the designated driver when they go home.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Wednesday, March 15, 2007