Where Did This Week Go?

Saturday -
Our 3 days at ROCKHOUND SP with Kate and Terry exceeded any and all expectations. Several times after Kate had done another "show & tell" of LD modification or enhancement, I would remark I felt like a fire hose was turned on me!! How in the world to absorb so much! Fortunately, her website http://www.cholulared.com has extensive pictures and documentation.


Last night, we decided to drive into Deming for our last dinner together. After squeezing all four into their Geo Tracker, we we were off like a herd of turtles to town. Suddenly Kate reaches under the driver's seat, pulls out and plops on the dash their Garmin Street Pilot. She clicks a few times and selects ADOBE DELI that was already programed. When we came to the main road, it had us turning AWAY from town, out into the blackness of a dark desert night.

After a few minutes Lady Garmin instructed us to turn right on a road we couldn't see. But sure enough, there it was and we slowly but surely turned south. Soon we saw lights ahead, twinkling against the black darkness. Finally there was this ramshack of a building, with 3 big dogs sniffing at everyone entering through the back patio.

Sure enough, inside was this western restaurant with lots of ambiance...but no tables. The waitress asked, "You have reservations?" RESERVATIONS .... for this place out in the middle of nowhere! Yep. Sorry. So we kinda looked at one another dumbly and while discussing our alternatives (none), the waitress re-appeared with good news - a couple had volunteered to give up their table and eat at the bar in the back. NOW...that's real New Mexico hospitality. The speciality of the house was 10 oz western rib eye...and friends, I'll tell you... it was fantastic...cut it with my fork....though Jeannette's piece had a little more fat than she bargained for.


We drove home sassy and satisfied after a most interesting experience.

This morning we left "paradise" behind and continued eastbound, stopping for gas in El Paso ($2.29/GAL), taking the loop around athe city and arrived at PARKVIEW RV Park in Ft. Stockton, TX for the evening hookup. This place is about a mile south of "town" (and I use that term guardedly) and has all the look/feel of being a set right out of movie: American Graffitti. You would think it's been there forever...and no paint in the past 40 years or so. That night the northwest wind blew cold and the Lazy Daze heater clicked on often during the long night.

SUNDAY.
After a quick breakfast of dry cereal and fruit, we joined I-10 to roll some 375 miles through the endless hills of West Texas. Near Sonora, much to our surpise, we came into view of huge windmills generating electricity... just like the ones near Palm Springs. However there were hundreds and hundreds, all on the north side of I-10, sitting on top of flat mesa mountains and every one of them whirling. This contuined for about 35-40 miles no less.

We stopped for gas in Sonora ($2.09/gal) and were treated to see some working cowboys filling up their steeds (dual wheely with horse tailer); these guys looked just like the Marlboro Man, down to their spurs!

About 5 pm, we reached Boerne, west of San Antonio and our friends Stan/Wilma Williams. We had been in same church and Sunday School class for last several years. Last August they moved to be near their son Paul and his family, and have a lovely new home; we parked on the street in front and ran our long chord to their front porch electrical outlet.

MONDAY.
For first time, we left the surety of I-10 and took Hwy 46 toward Austin. The picturesque drive took us by ranch after ranch, most had fancy rock/steel tube gates and entrance, with big American and Texas flags flyintg in the strong southwest wind. As we reached New Braunfels, our LD clicked over 3,000 miles so we found a Penzoil for oil change and to get Texas Safety Inspection, since our rig still has Texas tags. 35 minutes and $68 later, we were underway. This included new airfilters, the inspection paperwork...and the oil/filter.

About 3:30 pm we arrived in Austin at the offices of WORDsearch Bible Software. Randy and Mike have been good friends for over 10 years, having done all the software for the OUTLINE Bible materials we were publishing. They ran the umbilical cord out their shipping door, and we dry camped in their parking lot. Randy's wife Eilene joined us for dinner at Austin's THREADGILLS (http://www.threadgills.com) country restaurant for a sumptuous dinner and lots of fellowship.

TUESDAY.
We're now into our 10th day of RVing in a LAZE DAZE. Things are beginning to feel comfortable and fall into place. The odometer shows 1,484 miles since leaving Redlands, CA. Our 10 yr old rig is performing like a champ, far easier to drive than I had imagined.

From Austin, we back-tracked to Evergreen RV in San Marcos for butane. During 10 days and 10 nights with the heater on, we had consumed 5.4 gals of propane ($14.28) which seemed reasonable. Pulling out of their lot, we headed southeast toward CUERO, Dewitt County seat, and our longtime friends WOODY & JEAN BLACKBURN. We had first met in late 1961; Woody worked in a camera store in Fullerton, CA and helped us with camera and film before the birth of our first child in January 1963 and then our departure in February, flying a MAF Cessna to southern Mexico.

Eight years ago, after Woody had undergone multiple bypass surgery from 3 heart attacks... and God had miracleously spared his life, they sold out, packed up, and moved to Cuero and began a new life...buying 10 acres, buildiing a house/barn, and beginning a burro breeding ranch. YES, you read right, B U R R O. You should see the 4 four-legged brown bundles roaming around their 8 acres.

WEDNESDAY.
Thus far we had avoided all the big cities; now that all ended as we headed to Houston, and the worst traffic we have encountered thus far. Mile after mile of I-10 was just like I-10 between Ontario and San Bernardino in CA. Darkness overtook us about half hour before reaching our dear friends DOC & BETTY WILSON in Dayton, TX. We have known them since 1965 when made contact via ham radio while we were living in Xocempich, Yucatan and flying the MAF Cessna. Doc & Betty visited us there, and a few years later in San Cristobal Las Casas, Chiapas. Doc is a recognized amateur expert on Maya/Lacandon life, archeology and anthropology. His exploits have been written about and published by the University of Texas, including exploring an ancient Mayan ruin I discovered from the air in 1964. His personal library is more extensive than most universities on the Maya.

We spent hours recounting and reliving our shared experiences over the past 41 years, recalling both funny as well as hair-raising times together.

THURSDAY.
We hugged goodbye, with tear-soaked eyes, and drove eastbound on Hwy 90 then 770 to Hull, TX, where BERT & GAIL SHIVERS live. Bert flew as MAF pilot in Chiapas, then they returned to the oil fields of East Texas to raise their son Gil and daughter Penny, both now married and with a total of 7 children.

Like with the Wilsons, we shared years of pictures and experiences until late hours, and again this morning. Gail prepared Texas sausage and biscuits for us, before she left to teach her 8th grade class nearby.

I walked along the the 1,900 ft. grass airstrip behind their house, where years ago, Bert let me fly his ultralight and his Boeing Sterman biplane. His succinct words of wisdom before taking off in the ultralight were:
• This is 3rd engine in this ultralight; the others have failed before 4 hours of life. This engine now has 4.6 hrs, so
suggested I stay within gliding distance of the grass strip, should #3 fail as they others had.
• When landing the ultralight, with my bottom almost dragging the ground, do NOT to put my feet down to
stop, since there were no brakes. He assured me that would guarantee a broken leg..and maybe more!
• He advised that everyone else he had ever let fly the Stearman had ground looped it. He urged me to "break the string"
and bring it back with all the paint still intact. Fortunately, he got his wish.

FRIDAY.
After Gail's breakfast, we hugged, said our so-longs, and headed east on Hwy 90 for Beaumont, where we once again joined our faithful friend I-10 eastbound - now across the Cajun State of LA. There was more rough and bumpy highway today than we've had thus far. Our LD moaned and groaned at the potholes and cracks; however everything seems to have held together.

Jeannette searched through mutliple brochures, seeking a quiet site for tonight. . . and she found LAND OF PINES Family Campground, north of Covington, LA. And here we are, stopping early today.

I'm able to catch up via TengoInternet; our first experience with this fast-spreading network in RV parks and campsites. $4 gets 24 hours and they have various packages up to an annual for about $225.00. Of course Kate, Andy, and all those with sat. dishes have their internet 24/7 off their dishes, for about $70-$80/month, plus cost of equipment - ANYHWHERE they are!

Nighttime has fallen over about 45 RV and camping trailers. With the coach door open, but screen closed to any early mosquitos, there isn't a single man-made sound to be heard.... except the soundtrack to THE NOTEBOOK dvd that Jeannette is watching in the back bedroom! Our toy miniature poodle MIMI is curled beside her, sound asleep. Life in good in a Lazy Daze!

Our email INBOX had several emails from SE Lazy Daze members, with final plans for the Gathering March 7-10 at Hannah Park, near Jacksonsville, FL. We'll have a week at home full of business, then we'll load and head south to join some 20 plus other Lazy Dazers coming from far and wide.

All is at rest...and tomorrow we say goodbye to our faithful I-10 concrete ribbon, and take I-59 for the final leg to Chattanooga.

Who Said We're Leaving?

This Land of Enchantment has cast its' spell over us...Big Time! By yesterday afternoon, we knew we wanted to spend another day and absorb all of God's magnificient views, along with a growing friendship with Kate and Terry in CHOLULA RED!

With Terry on the roof of our LD, ably armed with silicone lubricant spray, wrenches, and other tools... I was strategically placed inside, to raise/lower our TV batwing antenna. While it would reluctantly raise, it steadfastly refused to rotate whatsoever. However it was no match for Terry's experienced skill, and soon it relented and rotated freely to and fro...searching for the few tv stations viewable from this mountainside park.



Kate brought their new miniature Skil drill and a flexible shaft which was about the only way to remove the rear window shade hangar for replacement. Now we have privacy from the rear.

Last evening, Jeannette and Kate combined from their shopping trip and we dined royally in CHOLULA RED's dining area; savoring frozen shrimp coctail w/marinated garlic buds, Kate's own exotic salad, stuff chicken breasts and brussel sprouts. Fresh strawberries completed the gourmet delight... a la LD style!

Who said we were leaving today? By last evening, we were under the spell, and decided to stay for Day 2 of LD orientation and familiarization. I highly recommend to any "newbie"... if you possibly can... arrange your schedule to meet up with CHOLULA RED in some state park in NM or AZ.

It's Better Than They Told Us!

This morning, I'm sitting our our LD, parked at ROCKHOUND State Park, at 5,000 ft.on the side of a mountain... near Deming, NM. Kate and Terry's beautiful CHOLULA RED 30' IB LD is parked across the road, and I'm piggybacking on their Dustyfoot Wifi.

We had two great days in Quartzsite with Earl and Linda. They couldn"t do enough to help us and show us around.
The 88 RV Shades campground turned out to be right beside I-10 and a bit noisey during the night. so we moved sites the next day. They took us to LA CASA for a Mexican dinner. Their new EXCEL 5th wheel is one great unit and pulling it with a gun-metal grey Ford 3500 diesel. All they lack is selling their home site, and they'll be back into full-time.

Tuesday, we visited Doug/Sandy Ross in Phoenix and discussed our upcoming trip to Cuba in May, working out the details. Tuesday evening, we parked in the front yard of John-Joanne Watson in Catalina, about 30 miles north of Tucson. John was MAF pilot in Honduras during the 60s-70s; so we had lots to catch up on. They are with Wycliffe Mexico Branch, whose center has been in Catalina since they were forced out of Mexico over 20 years ago.

Wednesday, we continued on I-10 and decided to stop at this Park, looking for Lazy Dazers.... and we found Kate and Terri in their CHOLULA RED!! What a delight!! You really should see their 30' Twin Bed rig!! With Andy's help, and others, they have modified, converted, and installed more helpful things than you can shake a stick at at. See Kate's blog for more details and pictures.

Terry and I are working on our TV antenna that doesn't want to rotate... plus they want to do a few modifications to ours.
Who knows what all will happen before we leave here.

Final Preparations...Cont.

We had hoped to be on the road by this morning; however a few details held us over. Learning all the systems of the LAZY DAZE is an interesting experience. Read what it says - push or pull or click - and see if the desired result happens.

We had been thinking of getting a portable satellite dish with Dustyfoot tripod. However for now, we're going to wait. Same for making a custom installation of a flat screen TV on an articulated arm. So we bought the flat screen and will use the bat wing roof antenna, plus at hookups.

Our LD has hydraulic levelers; that's the next system to learn this afternoon. Jeannette is putting our stuff in drawers, cabinets and the outside storage bins. She's making lists so hopefully we'll be able to find things before we get to Tenn.

Tomorrow early, we head for Quartzsite, AZ with reservations at 88 RV Shades park. Hope we'll find some other LDers there. Plans are to meet LINDA & EARL HYLTON; she has offered to show us around Q. Tuesday, our next stop is Phoenix to visit friends, then down to Catalina (near Tucson) to visit friends. Afterwards on toward Deming and Pancho Villa State Park.

Weather has been overcast and cool until now, but the sun is shinning bright today. Tomorrow we'll be on I-10 eastbound. Our Tan/Brown 26.5 MB will look like a roadrunner!

Final Preparations

Two days later - December 29th - after driving down from Big Bear, we received a phone call that Jeannette's mother (87 and in good health) had died suddenly back in Chattanooga. So we scrambled to get airline tickets (which was almost impossible) and flew back for the funeral and handling all the estate affairs afterwards.

Now, 5 weeks later, we've been here in Fullerton this past week. At 8am each morning, we drive our two grandchildren to their respective Christian schools (elementary and middle). This gives us personal, upclose 1:00 with them in the car or sometimes our LAZY DAZE. The first time in the LD, the Monitor Teacher was so surprised to see our Katie jumping out the door! And we go back to pick them up each afternoon.
This past Monday I spent at mothership. Unfortunately while up at Big Bear in the mtns (7,700'), the water line frooze in the LD and broke off the faucet. When I talked with Vince (service manager) @ mothership, his words were gloom and despair...i.e. booked solid until mid-April, could be major, big-time work to replace cracked water lines, etc.
However, after about 20 minutes, he gradually came to say: "Hey if you can get it here in 45 minutes, I'll take a look at it." 41 minutes later, I pulled into the LD parking lot!
The freezing water of course had expanded and found the weakest link, which was the plastic screw nut holding the faucet to the fixture. It literally had fallen over into the sink. Vince explains he will probably have to replace entire faucet. No problem... can you work that into your schedule? His reply was he would give it about 20 minutes... all he could spare.
Well, praise the Lord, he found another identical faucet (circa 1996) scavanged the nut ring, screwed all back together, turned on the water pump and.... Voilà.... NO LEAKS!! As he was out of time he instructed me, as soon as I got back home, to light the water heater, pressurize that system, and check for leaks there. IF there were, to call him, but that would mean working us in early next week.
He took another 10 minutes and made some quick adjustments to shades, mirrors, etc. I purchased some things in the LD store, paid IN CASH (No credit cards; only cash/check), and headed home... One Happy LD Camper!
Upon arriving back at our daughter's, did the water heater routine and NO LEAKS! Glory!!
Our LD came from original owner who purchased the 50th Anniversay 30' IB floor demo unit. So they took everything out of their old rig, to put in their new rig. Thus we are starting from ground zero. So... yesterday, off to Walmart with our list of everything from toothpiks to towels to tire gauge, etc. 2 hours later, we wheeled a single shopping cart out to our LD with $272. of supplies and a few grocieres. Next stop was Circuit City to get a TV, since the previous owner used a small portable tv and of course took it.
Tomorrow (Thursday) we drive out to Redlands for a couple days with our two single sons. Pack stuff away, make a couple of quick runs to find rattles and check everything. Then Saturday, we hopefully head out on our first-ever RV trip - Desination: Quartzsite. Ray and Joan were out there for the Rock and RV shows last month. They will probably have stories and pictures for us at Hannah Park. Then along I-10 eastbound and pedal down!