Today was so busy, I had 4 munzee events to attend over the whole day. Marie & Tim (the top two munzee players in the world) and Carol picked me up at my hotel just after 8.15 and almost to the minute, 12 hours later dropped me off again.

We headed for Erwin Park, with a little detour or two first, for munzees of course, lol. We got to the park to discover there was a mountain bike racing event on as well, so is was rather chaotic, with bikes, cars and people everywhere. Our pavilion was down the road a bit further, but parking was a premium! Here we had a 10 stage Eventzee, photo scavenger hunt. We had to find the 10 locations which each had a casino based game that we had to do and then answer a question about that game.

It was quite a warm morning and the phone reception wasn’t great, but got all the clues done and questions answered. We then headed off to have a spot of lunch and on to Inspiration Park for the next event. Found the specials, had a chat and then moved on again. Back to MHQ this time and the Wallabee event. This is a card collecting game, which I don’t play, but there was a badge for attending so we all went, LOL. There were some more special munzees to cap and more talking, before yet again moving on.

The final event was in the middle of the McKinney town square, which had all been fenced off for their annual Oktoberfest celebration. Lots of noise, music, German food and beer, all the shops still open, fairground stuff for children, a petting zoo and thousands of people. The munzee event was modified to suit the situation which we completed. Had a lovely dinner at a restaurant near one of the gates and just watched people pouring past the windows!

After a few detours to find more munzees of course, I arrived back at the hotel.

PS for yesterday. In the morning driving through the suburbs I watched a roof being tiled, well sort of. They are individual tiles like we have, but sheets which have imitation tiles on the lower half and plain at the top. The top part is nailed onto the wooden roof and then covered by the next overlapping sheet of tiles. I was told in one of my many chats that the housing in Texas is very inexpensive.

Me playing Texas hold ’em (lol)

A beautiful house in McKinney

Where we were headed

For Dad, this dinky little fire truck in the centre of the festivities!

LOL, started the day off much the same as yesterday only changed the order, as Inspiration Park is right next to a school, and you are not allowed to use a mobile phone in the school zone whilst children are being drooped off (or picked up either). Went out to Erwin Park first off, had a chat to a park ranger, clearing up some fallen pecan branches. He said that the crops had been so good this year that the nuts were too heavy and the branches were breaking. Not small branches either.  Lots of squirrels around that early and a few more birds. Saw a huge white one at the lake, not sure if a heron or an egret.

On to Inspiration Park and met up with another couple of munzee hunters. Walked around for a while and then drove around for a bit before coming back for lunch and a nap!

Headed down to Towne Lake Park, another spot Maria and I walked around last year, very pretty recreation area. Then headed over to MHQ and the first event of the calendar for this weekend. Lots and lots of people, things to buy and things to scan, lots of talking and greetings. Had a photo scavenger hunt to complete as well which was fun. The theme is casino based, so there were tables and dealers all playing with chips that were redeemed for vouchers. The top 3 winners getting munzee vouchers for the online store. The night finished off with some entertainment by the staff, which was fun.

There are 4 events tomorrow plus a geocaching one as well, going to be well and truly busy!!

Now I know you can see the bird, but can you see the squirrel?
He’s sitting on the large bare branch.

School buses all lined up, ready for the afternoon shift

Towne Lake Park

It’s been a week already!

Didn’t really do anything much today. The special flat munzees were released at midnight and as they can give very good points, I returned to Inspiration, Erwin and Celebration parks to cap them. Just over 2000 of them in those 3 places alone, the munzee map is covered with them, LOL.

No muddy shoes at Inspiration this time, stayed on the short grass and footpath. At Erwin they are rehabilitating the large interior of the park with prairie vegetation, which looks mainly like tall grasses and short shrubs. There is also a protected section of vegetation that is not allowed to be mowed specifically for butterflies. Lots more squirrels, but no vultures this time.

Short nap and then on to Celebration Park. I was sitting in an empty car park concentrating on my phone, when I looked up the car park was full, about 100 teenagers getting off a bus and people everywhere. Apparently they have running practice every afternoon, even though it is unseasonably hot at the moment. Anyway moved on and eventually found another empty car park. Walked off to the middle of the park to come back and find, once again, the car park full and this time youngsters heading in for baseball.

One again going to try for an early night!

Tomorrow’s blog will be late because the first event of the MHQ Bash is from 7-10 pm.

Prairie revegetation. Hope they aren’t planning on letting these loose on it, those horns are huge! LOL

Well I did sleep better last night, so left here just after 7 and did some walking the streets at the new Munzee headquarters for the physical munzees around there. It gets too warm and it’s quite humid, to do much walking around later in the day. The cough I acquired from the plane seems to have settled in and not going away very quickly!

After a quick visit home as dopey here had forgotten her water bottle, I took a drive down to what turned out to be some newer areas and took some photos of the building going on as it’s quite different to our double brick! A bit more munzee hunting in a park used for one of last year’s munzee events and then back for a late lunch. I then headed out to the munzee garden that was put in over the Pecan Grove Cemetery. A pioneer cemetery that is still in use. Maria and I visited it last year, but there has been some virtual munzee retirements, so it had lots of new ones just waiting for me, LOL. Put some fuel in the car and then got home in time for the sunset.

Timber framed
 
Roof completely covered before the tiles go on
Insulated walls, and the brick work is done last

Grackles shelter under vehicles and they make the most odd noises, sort of like polystyrene being rubbed together as well as air squeaking out of a balloon. Most entertaining.

I think this vehicle has been designed to go absolutely everywhere! Not sure about the trailer though, LOL.
SunriseSunset

Rather out of sorts today as slept from 10-midnightish and then 6-9 am, so just feeling ugh! LOL. Anyway, decided to go back to Erwin Park as it was so peaceful and it was even more so being a working day. Drove around and stopped lots to walk a bit and get physical munzees. Noticed that there were lots of munzee feathers appearing on the map and then had a rendezvous with Theo, whom Helen & met in Berlin several years ago. He and Doris are also here for the Bash and we did a little virtual puppy swapping. From there came back for lunch and a nap, and couldn’t even fall asleep then!!! So went off for a drive to finish off the crossbow munzees form last night and popped into Walmart for a few more supplies, especially water.

Had a frustrating time in that the atm’s there wouldn’t recognise my savings account attached to my credit card, so couldn’t get any cash. Will have to find a proper bank tomorrow and get that sorted!!

As a treat I bought a small individual pumpkin pie, which is not something seen at home, and it was very nice. All the Halloween paraphernalia is out for sale and look great in all those autumnal colours.

Going to try to have an early night and see if that helps!!

There was obviously something dead in the field as there were lots of vultures circling around, one with something dangling from it’s beak before it flew off.

A pecan tree in fruit or is that nut, LOL

Well, I must be getting into holiday mode, staying up late and staying in bed a bit longer in the mornings. Still not sleeping well, but that’s nothing new, LOL

I had a 10 am appointment to visit the new Munzee Headquarters. It’s open house on Friday evening for the first event of the MHQ 4th Bash, but I wanted to see it in it’s normal state, and my request was granted. Had a good time there, chatting and scanning munzees, a HQ eventzee scavenger hunt and a wander round looking at the huge open area they have. The old HQ was in a great old building with character, but this one has lots of room to move (and dance) and lots of parking spots.

From there I wandered off down the roads, nothing particular in mind and just carried on capping the seemingly inexhaustible supply of virtual munzees. Back home for a quick bite, and note, no nap or book reading, before heading out again on the endless trail, LOL. About 4 I decided to tackle the crossbow garden and with endless side tracks still had not finished it at 8, but decided it was time for dinner & bed. But it was great fun traversing the streets and lane ways around this old part of McKinney. There are some beautiful old style houses, lovely cared for gardens, and not much traffic.

BTW, I once again bumped into the lady and her great dane, only to find she has 2 of them and a son. If their room is the same size as mine, which it probably is, no idea how they all fit in!!!!! It seems to me that this is one of those hotels where people live in. One man, down smoking in the car park, said he’d just seen his wife off to work and it was his turn soon.

On the road again…..

McKinney houses & gardens

Started today a bit late, well it was Sunday after all! Had a great day with an extra special highlight at the end of it.

Headed to Erwin Park, which is where the Saturday morning event is being held. I wanted to get as many of the munzees there as possible early so that I don’t have to worry about them and all the rest on Saturday and can do some socializing, LOL. Well it’s a beautiful park, well maintained, with some wilderness areas, along with a few camping spots and picnic areas. It has many mountain bike trails running through the grasslands, which apparently evolved along with the sport, and is quite obviously a favourite spot. Dog walking, jogging, normal cycling, it’s a great spot for all, and what was even better no background traffic hum.

Listened to the birds, watched the squirrels, and just generally enjoyed the area. Not sure if it’s a cricket or a cicada, but some insect sounds just like a water sprinkler, complete with the tick tick tick as the nozzle resets itself. It was uncanny, I did look for the sprinklers to begin with, LOL.

Back for a late lunch and a book read, and then headed out to just find a car park or 2 under munzees. Anyway, just about to pull out onto a side street when who should appear in the vehicle beside me but Rob (Munzee pres) and Louise (Events coordinator). It was brilliant to see them again, so we parked the cars and chatted until the mossies appeared.

The road to Erwin Park and a tiny little bit of it.

There were lots of trees with these big webs in, not sure if caterpillar, spider or ants, and no one I asked seemed to know, Will ask again on Saturday.

Well I knew this hotel was going to be a little different from the reviews, but I took out my own rubbish to the outside bin, and I shared the elevator with a great dane. He was lovely, but far more interested in the chicken bones in my rubbish than me, LOL.

Had a dreadful nights sleep! Whether because I had had an afternoon nap, or the fact that the a/c goes all night (can’t open the window) or that I might have caught something on the plane, I don’t know. I suppose tomorrow will tell me if I have a cold or not!

Anyway, headed out to Wylie, about 40 minutes north-east of McKinney, where a fund raising munzee paw-print garden was located. Got there to find the park it was next to has been closed for 2 years, so it was hard to get to the munzees everyone had added, and the paw print itself was in a very large, harvested corn field that was not very walkable!

Did a bit of driving around and a bit of walking before heading back across country for Frisco, which is south of McKinney. There was located another fund-raising garden, this time breast cancer awareness ribbons. Mostly located over the BCA Society HQ building and car park, this nevertheless had a beautiful park between it and the motorway. I assume people are used to the constant hum of traffic, but getting back into the car and shutting the door on the noise was lovely!

Came home for a bite of lunch and a rest and then headed out once more to Celebration Park in Allen, just south of McKinney as well. Maria and I cleaned up the munzees there last year, but it had had lots more added. Walked the 4 kms around the park and then headed back to Walmart for some more supplies. Got some throat lozenges for just in case, LOL.  Funny thing was when I went in it was daylight outside and when I came out it was completely dark, had even missed the sunset! I was told it gets dark very quickly, so felt better and I hadn’t been wandering aimlessly forever!

hmm locked gates at Wylie

but the lake beyond would have been lovely to see!

jack-rabbit statues in Frisco and a lovely park
with lots of turtles in the ponds
then Celebration Park in Allen along with its ducks!
 

Well last night I had to call Reception to ask how to change the bath to a shower. With this one you had to pull the bath nozzle down, it’s amazing how many different fixtures there are for this simple task! Anyway it was worth it, the shower was lovely after such a long day!

Didn’t sleep well, but isn’t that always the case in a strange bed, hopefully better tonight. Was awake at the usual time, so played a few games and read a bit before making breakfast. It’s dark in the mornings until about 7 and gets dark around 8 in the evening.

There were a lot of munzees all along the highway outside the hotel, so took an early walk down, then back past the hotel, and then up. No footpath, I don’t think pedestrians are normal as I had 3 people stop to ask if I was OK. Took the road at the back of the hotel, which runs past the school bus depot, so buses everywhere, LOL.

Hopped into the car and headed out to Inspiration Park and the munzee garden there. Started off by driving around the houses, pulling over every so often. The houses were all double storey and new looking, it was also rubbish day (have been told it’s trash not rubbish, LOL) and quite a few lawn mower men working away.

Then down to the park itself, which is lovely and green. There’s a creek running down one side of it where the vegetation is quite wild. Not many birds, but lots of insects and maybe frogs. Walked around the park and got muddy shoes, though not sure how as it was grassed, anyway thought I cleaned it all off until I got out of the car. The shoes are currently waiting for the mud to dry!

Had a bite of lunch and a rest, not really a nap, read a bit, a proper paper book, lol, thanks Rachell, it’s going well! Then headed down the expressway to the multitude of shops where there was also a multitude of munzees. Discovered that if one needs to practice the four-way-stop-sign traffic controller, then that was the place to be!!!

Got home just in time to catch a sunset photo.

Might be a bit small to see, but a panorama of Inspiration Park
A denizen of the park. Mum, the background looks just like that jigsaw but without the yellow flowers, lol

The park from the other end

Don’t know what this fruit is, but obviously neither man nor beast eats them
 
I think these are boat-tailed grackles, but several young without tails. They kept standing with their heads pointed straight up and then moving on to repeat it. Some ritual greeting maybe?

On the way home on Wednesday 13th, stopped in at Mum’s for a roast pork dinner, lovely, thanks Mum. Then home and started the packing. Not too bad with a list, got to bed about 21.30, but didn’t sleep well.
Up at 2.45, and Dad picked me up at 3.30 and at the airport about 4.10. Thanks heaps Dad. I had managed to upgrade to business using points, so it is nice to use the quicker lanes to get through check in and security. A little bit of breakfast in the lounge and then on the plane. It left about 15 minutes late. Managed a little nap. Sydney airport was experiencing strong winds so there was only one runway open for all traffic. This meant a little circling until time for us to land. Then a bus to the international terminal, where the flight boarding was delayed half an hour, but it was an hour later we actually took off. I had a seat near the back of the plane, but I also had an empty seat next to me which was good.

Anyway, 14+ hours later arrived in Dallas, actually 15 minutes before we took off from Sydney, LOL, this date line stuff is weird! And isn’t it lovely and warm, so nice after chilly Perth!!! Had to catch a bus to the hire car terminal, sorted out the car and GPS and got on to the highway eventually, heading for McKinney. As the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car, so are the windscreen wipers and the indicators on different sides as well. I bet a lot of people wondered why I was using wipers on a dry windscreen, LOL.

Found the accommodation and unpacked, then popped out to do some grocery shopping at Walmart. The room has a fridge & microwave, which is why I picked it. Anyway, it’s time for bed, even if it is 9 am tomorrow morning at home!

New South Wales from the air

Woodspring Suites, home for the next 11 nights