Tow Bar and R&R

 

It was Wednesday morning when I woke up. I knew there was a reason I was anxious and did not know why...then it came to me...today we leave for our rest and relaxation trip. I have been working hard every day for a week getting our little place ready to live in and now it was time for me to have some rest away from home. Sherri also has been toiling away the hours getting all the pink jobs done in the new house. She too needs time to rest and have some fun.

I got up and made the coffee and then started getting the outside stuff done so we could leave by 8:00 am. We also are having the tow bar installed today so we can tow our Jeep with us on our future journeys. We are having that done at Hay's RV in Longview Texas. It is about an hour and one half drive for us this morning so we are leaving early to get that done before we continue our trip east. The plan is to get this work done and then head on east as far as Shreveport where we will stop for the night at Diamond Jacks RV park.

The Jeep went up and we went home

Lucky for us home was just across the street so we could keep tabs on it.

We arrived at Hay's on time and soon we were shown where we could park the RV for the day while we waited for the work to be completed....And wait we did. It took them from 10:30 to 4:00 to do all that had to be done. We were both thankful that we had our house there with us to rest in. Come to find out the break system on the Jeep that they had ordered did not have the correct switch in it so we did not get that portion of the order done. We will have to make a return trip to the shop to complete the work next Thursday.

This fat guy came out to hook us up...OH wait that is me!

 They pulled the Jeep up behind us and went through the hitch up procedures. It was pretty much straight forward and we felt comfortable knowing that we could do that part without too much trouble. Now the part about switching the Jeep over to tow...that was a different mater. We had never done this...and had some horror stories told to us by our fellow campers that if you don't dot your I's and cross your T's that you could tear up you vehicle real fast.

We both sat in the Jeep and Sherri read to me while I did each step methodically one by one. We checked and then double checked each other out until we were certain that every step had been completed to the best of our abilities. Then it was time...

We told the car we loved it and that we wished the best for it and us...then pulled out the drive way onto the street and headed to the Interstate and Shreveport...

I could not take my eye off the camera...watching the Jeep and where I was going was a daunting task but I managed until Sherri agreed to watch the Jeep and let me watch the road. All seemed well behind us and we did not see any fire so we assumed that all was well....

It was...we reached the Fly-J just outside of Shreveport where we fueled up and I checked out everything on the Jeep. Everything looked good and I finished fueling up and sent Sherri to pay the bill. In worrying about the Jeep and all I had forgot to hang up the pump handle on the main fuel pump...I was using the slave...so they could not read the register inside. They had to send an attendant outside to hang up the pump so it would register! Sorry! I need this R&R.

We met Rodney and Becky...Sherri's brother and SIL at the fuel stop and they followed us to Diamond Jacks. It was almost 7:30 before we got settled in to our sites and then we had to go eat. That meant I had to unhook the Jeep! Then I would have to hook it up again in the morning! OH ME now I have to start worrying all over again. I am sure that Sherri and I will be able to handle this once we do it enough...

Somewhere in Time   

Things are Coming Together But Almost Blown Apart

When completed this will be our screened in porch.

It was 2:30 in the morning and the phone was ringing. I heard Sherri say, "Hello"...and then she turned over and told me to turn the TV on. I did as I was instructed and when the picture flashed on the screen all I could see was a giant weather map with my barn right in the middle. Underlined in Bold letters was TAKE SHELTER! I knew right then I was in big trouble. Not that I did not expect this to happen...after all it is April and this is north Texas...and I did just erect a new Motorhome port. I would expect the winds to blow and blow hard with lots of lightning and thunder.

OK so we both decided that where we were at this moment was not the best place to be in this kind of weather so we got dressed called our daughter in Wills Point and told her we were on our way. She said that she too was up watching the weather and was just about to call us. It only takes about 15 minutes to get to her house but it seemed like an hour. The wind was so strong that the leaves were blowing off the trees. The road was covered with debris from people's front lawns and when the lightning lit up the sky you could see the ominous clouds billowing down on us. I felt like I was in a Storm Chaser program on the Weather Channel.

We arrived at Jennifer's safely and watched the weather channel with her. The local weather people were frothing at the mouth when it was their turn to speak about the conditions outside. It was like they were in a reporting frenzy! It was amazing how many adjectives they came up with to describe the impending doom that was soon to be in your back yard...Go to a safe room and cover the children with mattresses. A "Safe Room"... Most houses, I have seen that take a direct hit from an F 3 Tornado don't have any rooms left...now let me see which one of the rooms that are no longer there were the "Safe Room". Well for Sherri and I it was a no brainer. We knew we had no safe room so we hit the road to find one.

After about 5 hours of hearing these weather guys OOO and GAAA over what was happening we decided to take the road back home. Hopefully we still had a home and it was still covered buy our new port.

All was in one piece when we returned and parked under the port. It was real late and I did not want to take an inventory at that time so we both decided to turn in and look around in the morning.

Morning did come and we were both dreading getting up. I did want to check everything and make sure that all was accounted for. But before I could take that trip outside I had to have my coffee. That is what I did first and made sure that my sweet wife had her a cup. When we finished our coffee I did venture outside and looked the property over. Everything looked like it had faired well. We did have 80 mph winds out here...according to the report I got from the State Park Ranger.

We had to take the RV to the State Park to dump it and then drive into town to get our license plates and State Inspection. There went some more money...but we have to spend some more Wednesday in Longview when we get our tow bar and breaking system installed. I hope I have enough money left to buy gas to go to the lake in Louisiana. We are having a family reunion next weekend and we need to eat while we are there.

This picture kind a sums up how I feel...

When we got back from town I started on our fence in the back. I got all but two post in the ground...with concrete...and ready for the fencing material which I hope to get on tomorrow. I still have not arranged all the stuff I am storing in my bays. More on that later...

Somewhere in Time

Work Work Work

AHHHHHH another day off...What? you say...What's with the title of this post? Well I am off today but I have chores that must be done before I go to Louisiana for my R&R. I have to build a deck and a fence and a storage shed. I know that sounds like I have bit off more than I can chew...but it was all in the master plan laid down by us more than a year ago when I decided to go back to work.

I woke up and the room was hot and I noticed that I only had air blowing no AC. It is starting to get hot here already! This is only April and the temps today are going to be in the 90's! I was hoping to hang around here until the first of June and then head north to Colorado to cool down. Our time here was going to be March April and May leaving in June to cooler temps. Then we would return here in early October and then head south to warmer temps November December and January. I don't want to cut my stay here too short cause it is free rent and the electric is cheap.

Well that is what we are doing now is readying this place for those times we will be here chilling and banking money for our adventure trips. Unlike some of those lucky folks with two retirement incomes and SS coming in we have to be saving and plan out everything within our meager budget.

Anyone out there with tight budgets that would like to have fun and still eat must follow our journal as we scrimp and save our way through full timing. If you know you are not the only soul out there with less to spend than those you read about going all the time...eating out...shopping for new clothes...getting their finger nails done once a month then you will feel more comfortable living this life style. Yes even us po folks can have fun living like this.

OK enough of that I must get my coffee and start getting ready to dig more holes for fence post.  This will be a busy day which I will write about...

Somewhere in Time

Working on the MH Port

 

We arrived back at the lake about 5:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday. We had planned on getting there earlier but as usual that plan fell through. We stopped and shopped at Wally World for an hour or so and then continued on. Sherri picked up some rugs for her new living room and found some other what nots to place here and there. I found a clear plastic carpet protector for the drivers area. I will have to cut it to fit. Having the door in the drivers side of the MH is great but when you get out at some of the truck stops you have a tendency to track in oil and grease. This will allow me to keep my shoes on when entering the RV.

This morning the phone alarm went off and for just a second I thought it was time to get up for work. No I have a week and a half off so I went back to sleep. I don't think I slept long but I did not mind getting up when I woke the next time. I went and made coffee and sat down to figure my material for our porch which we are building inside the port. We want a place to set outside that is screened in to keep the skeeters out at night and the flies off of us in the day.

Digging holes...setting post...mixing concrete...and pouring it makes one tired

The plan is to make it 8 ft by 16 ft. This will gives us plenty of room for our chairs and tables. Sherri found several patio sets that she liked and they will fit in this size area. As this project develops I will post pictures to show you my progress. I have several days to get it started and I hope that in that time I can complete it. I will go to Home Depot this morning to order my lumber and pick up some of the materials that I can haul in the Jeep. It feels funny not to have my truck. We have had a truck for most of our married life and now without one I really don't know how to act. Maybe we can get us one of those small trailers that we can pull with the Jeep.

After returning from the Depot I began digging the holes for my fence that will attach to the port. There will be two small fences about 6 ft on either side of the front and a larger fenced in area off the left rear side that will house the playground for the kids. The other side of the rear will have a fenced in area with a gate to allow entrance to the port from the back of the property.

I have many more of these to do

Three fence post holes later I am heading to the shower. This has been a productive day and tomorrow I hope to get much more done...

Somewhere in Time

Tomorrow We Go Home

 

This morning the phone alarm went off and I rolled out of bed...Mind you not fast but I did roll out and made it to the bath room and took my shower. Before I jumped in the shower I made Sherri and I a pot of coffee. We must have our coffee before we drive an automobile. I would not be able to set the GPS much less turn the key on and drive off.

After we both got dressed we went down stairs and ate breakfast in the kitchen. Today they had the Orange Juice machine running so I was a happy camper. We had plenty of time to eat our breakfast and then drive over to the store.

This week we plan on building our deck under the Motor Home cover and also build some storage rooms. I sold my cargo trailer and we have to unload it this week so the man can take it. I need these storage areas finished so I can pack all our "Must Keep" possessions  inside out of the weather.

Before we leave here we have to go by and see how much we have to give up for the tow bar. We will have to get it connected to the Jeep and hooked up to the MH. I was hoping to get this all done before we take off for Louisiana. We will be staying there for a week of rest and relaxation. It will be nice to have the Jeep with us so we can visit family. Hope the timing works out and we can get it done.  

The day went really fast and before we knew it we were off and heading toward the hotel room. We are looking for a package coming from Tampa Florida. They over nighted  some papers for us to get the clear title on our truck . Problem was the package has not come yet and we are heading home as soon as we can. Over Night? I thought if you Over Night something it traveled over night and arrived at your place the next morning. Well maybe they have changed up the system but I still thought it would have arrived some time today.

I had been bragging on Lazy Days RV in Tampa Florida but when they sent us to get the clear title and sent us with a "COPY" of the release from lean...well needless to say they don't take copies. OK so we are stuck in Longview Texas trying to get the title while we wait for the  "Over-Night" that did not travel over night...to arrive... 

Somewhere in Time

Birthday in the new Motorhome Cover

 

Here is the new cover for the new house. Plenty of room for the Jeep too

Saturday morning and Sherri and I were both up early getting ready for the kids to come over for Kris and Jessica's Birthday Party. Jessica's Birthday is today and Kris's was last weekend so we just had them together. We fixed everything inside our new Motorhome cover. I set tables up and chairs for everyone to set outside...not that I didn't want them in the new house just wanted to have plenty of room for everyone to visit and eat.

The short order cook helps Sherri with the breakfast

Sherri and I fixed a late breakfast for all of them and then we brought out the cake for Kris and Jessica. The only candle was Kris's and it was a large "5" which Mawmaw lit for him to blow out. Everyone sang Happy Birthday and then polished off the cake and ice cream.

The two birthday grandkids make a wish

Jess got money and Kris got a computer

We visited until 4:00  or so and then everyone headed home. We had so much fun and when it was over we both collapsed in our chairs. Rodney and Becky came down later that evening and asked us to go with them  to eat at Logan's. We accepted the invitation so Sherri would not have to cook. She was really tired after all the preparation she made for the party. I said I would go if I did not have to drive! I had driven all I wanted to in the past 5 days.

Plenty of room in the new hangout...We get our back and front wall later this year.

We returned home around 8:30 and we both turned in. It had been a long day and we really needed to get rested for our next adventure...

Somewhere in Time

Rain in Arkansas

 

It was Tuesday morning and I found myself waking up in Magnolia Arkansas with one eye stuck shut with sleep and the other one blurring a bit...but still trying to see the clock on the night stand. I had a wake up call but had not heard the phone so I surmised it was not time to get up. I lay there wondering if I should try to go back to sleep or just get on up and take my shower. You know I did that once and when my eyes cleared and I could see the clock it was 2:30 am! Well I vowed never to get up until I had my wake up or Sherri hollered at me.

I laid there for some time and I think I did fall back to sleep but the phone rang as though it had only been a minute. OK I will get up this time and get ready. We have to be in the store at 7:00 am so I will have time to catch breakfast downstairs before I go. The store is not too far from the Hotel so I will not have to rush.

I hope this day passes fast...we have many towns to hit before I head the Jeep back to Texas...

Somewhere in Time

Carolina Carports Showed up

My cell phone alarm went off this morning at 5:00 am. As usual I was not ready to get up but then the carport installers will be here early and I wanted to be up and dressed when they showed up.

Sure nuff at 6:30 they pulled up out front and I was out the door to meet them. I wanted to be sure they understood that if I could not park my new MH under the port they were about to construct on my lot then there was no need to even start it. The head man assured me that he would make sure it was high enough to clear my roof air and satellite dome. I am counting on that so they got started. I sat inside and took pictures as they went along. Made me a pot of coffee and turned on the heat pump.

I will have the pictures of the completed project when I get home. You can tell it is good size.

They were like ants on a mound...crawling all over it until it was all together. It was a pot of coffee and a bowl of cereal later they were about done! I had to hurry and write the final check for it so they could vacate the property. I was needing to load up the Jeep and get on the road myself. Having to be in Arkansas before dark was going to be daunting task but one I knew I could manage.

This trip will be made by myself. Sherri is taking time off to get some things done. I will be working and traveling alone this week. I usually depend on Sherri to keep me straight on everything but this trip will be all on my own. I already miss her and it is only the first day!

I did get on the road about 2:30 and headed East. It would be a 4 hour drive and I have no one to talk to. I turned the satellite radio on and listened to music and comedy but even that became tiresome. I did make it without too much trouble but I hope next week she is back with me.

I arrived about 5:30 and got checked in. I called Sherri to let her know that I had arrived safely. It was good to hear her voice and I told her how much I missed her. I think she will be ready to come back to work next week when she realizes how much she misses me....HE HE

About 7:00 some of my co-workers showed up and we walked across the street and at Joe's Pizza. I ordered a Supreme 14" and had enough left for breakfast in the morning. After we ate we hurried back across the street said our good-nights and went inside. I posted my journal entry from yesterday and typed away on this one. I have a good Internet connection for once and hope to read some journals and chat...

Somewhere in Time

Back at Home Base

 

 

The MH handled well and I was impressed with the V10.

It is Sunday morning and I am asleep...no I am awake but I think my mind is asleep...no I am typing this post so my mind is awake and my body wants to be asleep.

I don't know for sure but I do know that the trip back to Home Base was windy and I was tired of fighting the wind. We got 8 to 9 mpg on the way back and if we had not been fighting a 35 to 40 mph wind it could have been better. I was really impressed with the V10 engine! I had it in cruise most all the trip and very seldom did it down shift when climbing hills. We did lose some speed but for the most part it kept us up with the big boys. The only thing I will have to get use to is finding stations that I can get gasoline in. With the diesel we just pulled in with the big boys and got topped off and then went on our way...but with this rig you have to go to the four wheeler pumps and sometimes that can be a chore. Overall everything is working out real well and we both love the MH.

We had planned on stopping at Rainbow Plantation and visiting with our friends Darrell and Judy Patterson but we got a call from our boss requesting us to be in Arkansas Monday afternoon. Well that shorten the time we had planned on having on the road so we had to dead head it back to Texas so we could load up and head the other direction. Not only that but we had a birthday party and Carolina Carports called and said they would be installing our carport Monday morning. What else could we plan into our weekend!

 

We had to dead head it back to Texas to take care of a list of things!

We invited the little ones over last night to try out their new bunk beds. They had a fit over them and tried out everything in the house. Kris got the top bunk which we were a little worried about him falling out of but we fixed it where he could not roll out and all was well. They have their own DVD players above the bunks and the lower bunk has a game plug in for the Wii games.

They loved the bunks and the DVD's well what do you think...

Today is Kris's birthday and Sherri fixed some donuts like a cake and put his #5 Candle on top. We all sang Happy Birthday to him and ate donuts. We will have him a present party next weekend when we have more time. Also will be celebrating Jessica's BD...she will be 17 years old! Am I getting old or what?

It was a busy time with the kids here and we did not get to do anything to the MH except try to keep them from tearing up everything...I will have to say they are real good when they stay with us. I don't think they ever remember us living in a house so the know how to use the potty and the pump and know all about conserving water etc. I am sure they will all be RVers when they get big enough.

 They all left this afternoon and Sherri and I had a little time to discuss the plan for putting all our stuff back in here. I have to leave in the morning for Arkansas so I must get all my belongings together tonight. Also in the morning the crew comes to put in our Car Port for the MH. I hope to stick around as long as I can to make sure it is tall enough for our new home.

That is all for this round...I hope to post more when I get on the road again. We have to have good Internet in the hotels so I can get on line. That is iffy...

Somewhere in Time

Headed back to Texas

 

We had a very busy day yesterday and it showed. When I woke up... I was in the same position as I was when I laid down. The covers...sheets and pillow were not moved. It took two flips of the wrist and I had the bed made. Sherri followed me to the living room for coffee. We no longer have to go down stairs. We have a single story house so all we have to do is mosey into the kitchen and pour our coffee.

Today is the day! We hitch up the horses and load the wagon and head out on the highway. First thing we have to do is go over to the Sales office and eat our free breakfast. Once breakfast was completed our deliver manager came by to get the keys to the new house. They will be pulling it over to one of the bays to do the punch list Sherri and I had made. Not much wrong but enough that I wanted them to do it before I left out.

It was not too long and Richard our delivery guy came by and told us that we were ready to go. He put our temp tag on gave us the release papers....you have to have these to take you RV off the lot.

Will this go around me??? I need an extension!

I got up in the cockpit of this bad boy and cranked her up! I had a golf cart in front of me and one behind me. I made it out of there like I knew what I was doing. No damages

WEEE HEEE

Next stop was the dump. This will be my first dump in the new RV. Well that doesn't read right does it. OK you all know what I mean. First we need to go through the guard gate and give them our release papers. You cannot just drive an RV out of here without documentation that says you bought and paid for it. The dump is on the way out of the compound. This is what I am beginning to call the park here. They have more guards than the White House.

This is the dump site!

Sherri said that we have never dumped at a site as nice as this one. She is right most dump sites are just that...dump sites. They have this whole park manicured to include the dump site. No spills for Speedy and we were ready to go...I know you were thinking there would be a story in this but not this time. The dump went off without a hitch and we pulled out of the main gate about 10:30. We turned West onto I 4 and then north onto I 75. We drove about 4 and 1/2 hours. The wind was blowing so hard all the high profile vehicles on the Interstate were having trouble staying on the road. We had problems too...felt like I was flying a bomber through a thunder storm! The 4 and 1/2 hour drive seemed like an eternity! 

 

Big Oak RV Park in Tallahassee Fla was a welcome site.

We made it to Big Oaks RV park just off of I10 and got signed into a site. We sat in the front going through our check list on setting the jacks. We got that done and then it was time to put the slides out...Slides...They did not show us how to do this...where are the front slide switches? Deer in the headlight look from both of us. We sat there for the longest and then it came to me...above the passenger seat! We got the slides out hooked up the electric and the water...could not get a lock on the satellite due to trees. I hooked up the cable and we did get TV.

Well that ends this day here at our first camp site in the new house. Tomorrow is a long drive and we will have to be up with the chickens and pull out of here...

Somewhere in Time

What a busy week in Tampa

Her she is waiting to be loaded up. We had to say good-bye to our old home and truck

Monday

We woke up Monday morning to golf carts buzzing around the RV and Diesel RV passing by along with gasoline motors roaring...I thought for a moment I had fallen asleep in the middle of a busy intersection downtown New York City!! As my eyes fluttered open to catch the first ray of light coming in through the window I could hear people talking as they walked past my bedroom window. Where am I...and then it all came back I am at Lazy Days RV to pick up my new house. Sherri was making some sounds next to me and she too was confused on where we were at.

Never been to an RV dealership this nice 

When it all became clear where we were and what was going on we both got out of bed to get ready for the days events. We had a whole list of things that we had to do before we could pick up our new house. Lazy Days is a city in itself! We could not believe all the people there working in the Prep area...repair...Sales...customer service and the list goes on and on. We met the friendliest people who when they past you in the halls and on the street would say "Welcome to Lazy Days". I cannot say enough good things about this organization. I can tell you this...it was well worth the drive here.

Did I just buy this?

We have tossed the idea around for years...ever since we sold out MH in 2003. We fell in love with our Carriage and I will have to say this...Sherri and I both hated to leave our beautiful home there and we will miss the truck but our new ride is so pretty and we love it so much that we moved in without too much sorrow.

We spent most of the day laying around the house waiting for our salesman to contact us. We had arrived a day early so we knew that we would be at the back of the line until Tuesday. Soon our salesman did call and lined us up with all the worker bees. Shortly after noon they all converged on our space and we were shuttled off to the office to start the paperwork.

They sent a blimp over to see if we were ready to sign the papers.

We signed all our paperwork and soon the house was delivered to our site and parked next door so we could move into it. We had a gentleman come by to do the walkthrough about 2:30 and he did an excellent job of showing us all the things we had bought and how they worked. Here again we can't say enough about the great job these folks are doing.

About 4:00 we were left alone to start our move. Sherri was very proficient in planning this move so in no time we had most all the inside belongings moved over and all that was left was the outside (My STUFF) to move. I planned on doing it tomorrow between all the other things that we have to do.

We are excited to have Jim and Dee coming along with Anna and Gale. We can't wait for them to arrive. We are all planning on eating out and then visiting at our new home. I think I will put them all to work moving the rest of our stuff over.

We were wore out about this time so we decided to hit the hay early so we would be rested for tomorrow.

Tuesday

I can't tell if I am alive or dead...my legs hurt so maybe I am alive. I went ahead an opened my eyes fearing that I might be laying in the morgue...but the first thing I saw was the ceiling in the new house. I think I can get out of bed but I am not real sure.  Sherri was trying to get out of her side and together we made it out and to the kitchen. This was our first night in the new home and we were a little lost wondering around trying to find the light switches.

We finally got our act together and I made it into the kitchen to make the coffee. Sherri got her shower and when she was through the coffee was ready and we sat down to plan the day. Our friends would be here about 11:30 or 12:00 so we planned on having all our things done by then...NOT!

We did not get over to the Sales office when we planned on getting there and when we did the people we were to talk to were not there. Today was insurance day and this would be next to the last piece of business that we would have to attend to today.

We all met here and spent some money

Well sure nuff everyone but us was on time and when Jim called I told them to go ahead and have lunch without us. I was so upset that our plans were not coming together....but then we got our stuff done called Jim back and they were just getting to Camping World. What timing we walked out of the Sales Office and met them on the front porch of Camping World. Gale and Anna were there too and we all exchanged hugs.

Dee shows Sherri her computer phone...It does everything

We had a great time in our new home

Jim relaxes on the sofa while the girls visit

Thanks so much Anna and Gale fore sharing this day with us

Next order of business was lunch which we had at Cracker Barrel just down the street from Camping World. All these places of business are on the grounds at Lazy Days. How great is that. We had a great lunch and overstayed our welcome there visiting and having a good time. We left there and went over to our new home and showed everyone around the half organized place. Sherri was so embarrassed that she did not have all her stuff arranged... Me...well it did not embarrass me that my stuff was still in the bay of the old house. Jim and Gale helped me get my stuff moved over and the ladies supervised the entire operation.

It was so great seeing Gale and Anna again...we enjoyed our visit

Before we knew it everything was in the new coach. Gale and Anna said their good-byes...they had things to do. Jim and Dee stayed over and we visited some more. Mater-a-fact we visited so long that it was dinner time and we had to go and eat again! We had such a nice visit with all our friends and we sure hated for them to go. We all know that we will meet again...

Somewhere in Time