I took a trip to Nocadoches Texas, as usual I didn't plan anything I just loaded the dogs up in the truck and took off for Nocadoches. I didn't know how long I would be gone so I didn't want to leave the dogs in the trailer, I didn't think that would be fair even though the trailer is big enough and cool enough. The dogs settled in quickly they love to ride in the truck and both try to get a piece of my lap and somehow they manage it. I don't mind being covered in dog fur, it is okay by me and being adored by two well mannered dogs is soothing to my soul. So off we went.

We took state highway 59 north out of Livingston, 59 is a good road for the most part.
The ride was a lot further than I thought not that I care that much to how far or how long a trip is, the trip its self is the main thing. Texas is doing a lot of road repair and improvements and we passed through quite a bit of construction on the way to Nocadoches.

When we got there we went to the old part of town and took some photos and enjoyed looking at some old photos of what the town looked like way back in the 1800's it was quite a place with a thriving business district and social life. I found a shop that sold souvenirs and ice cream; one of my weaknesses is icecream, I see it I want it. I found that they had some unusual flavors of milkshakes and indulge my ice cream desires in a tasty pecan milkshake. I browsed the store and marveled at all the things being sold that had to do with Texas. I could have spent a fortune there but living in an RV makes one think first before bringing home one more gee-gaw.

After looking the center of old town over we headed to the town park so I could give the dogs a chance to get a drink and take a pee on tree. The town has a nice park and band stand and looks well cared for must be humming with activity on the 4th of July.

Repairs

I just got the truck repaired. The situation was that when I was backing up or going up hill the engine would over heat. When I was going straight and level the engine stayed in the normal temperature range. It turns out that the the fan clutch in this vehicle was not the correct one for his model truck it should have been in a much smaller engine. I had it replaced with the correct size fan clutch, hopefully this will cure the overheating problem.

What fun to deal with repair shops and repair technicians.

The Leak Story

When I bought this trailer there was a problem with the water heater leaking. Seems someone may have left water in the hot water tank over the winter so it was disassembled and welded and put back together and didn't leak so I was happy.

When we got to our park here in Livingston I was getting something out of the pantry and didn't have my shoes on when I stepped into something wet and cold. I was about to blame one of our pets when I realized that the wetness was quite extensive. I climbed up the ladder on the rear of the RV and noticed two little streams of water running down the roof and one didn't go into the gutter but ran down the side of the unit. I thought maybe that was where the water was coming into the RV.

I went to the local RV repair place and made an appointment to have the leak repaired. When the man came out to fix the RV he looked at the roof and at the wet spot on the carpet and made a statement that it was to much water for what was coming off the roof.

He checked the hot water tank and sure enough it had a leak. Hot water heaters of any kind don't come cheap, but I am having a new one put in to replace the old leaky one at least we will have some sort of warranty with the new one. Now we just have to wait till it comes in from the manufacturer.

How to become a Texan

With a title like the above one's mind could be wondering what test or ordeal would be involved in becoming a Texan? Do you have to stand on the street corner and yell YEEE- HAW or prove you can walk in Cowboy boots or some other stunt? Perhaps one has to take a test on TEXAS history?
Nope none of those Pardner.

What one has to do (Ya'll) is get your vehicles registered and insured in TEXAS then obtain a TEXAS driver's license where one takes an oath, no not to TEXAS, just that you told the truth on your application... oh you have to pass an eye test, give up your previous license and have your picture taken and thumb prints taken. Oh I forgot the vehicles have to be inspected also. OY, vat a pain in the tush, of course I had to get TEXAS insurance and also had to have the trailer weighed so that added more steps to the procedure. Now I feel like I can proudly swagger down the street wearing my best Cowgirl Outfit with pride.... unless the wind catches my Cowgirl hat and I go chasing it down the street :)

Ya'll have the inside scoop on how to become a TEXAN :)

The Journey Begins

Sunday morning we awoke and packed up the trailer and hitched the truck and trailer.
After a walk around check and head count we pulled away from the house and down the farm road. I had worried about the last turn in the farm road that went around a tree, that turned into a none problem. I was overjoyed that I had not rubbed the awning off the trailer and forgot to make a wide enough turn to get on the highway and got the trailer stuck in the ditch! Now my truck was blocking the road and holding up folks in cars, truck and buggies going to church. A man came by and suggested using four wheel drive in reverse to back the rig out of the ditch, darn if it didn’t work. Yahoo, we were out of the ditch. A quick inspection and it was determined that we didn’t do too much damage to the trailer and proceeded on our journey.

As we drove by our friends and neighbors farms I was feeling sad to leave this place, few places in my life have I ever felt sad leaving, usually I feel overjoyed to be leaving, not this time. This time I had made friends and that is a significant change for me.

We headed down route 127 to Russell Springs KY and picked up the Cumberland Parkway and turned West to pick up Interstate 65 to Nashville. We spent he night at the Flying J West Memphis TN. This is where a strange thing happened some guy knocked on our door and wanted money, he said he was trying to get home, that he had been fired and needed money for gas. We turned him down and later watched him get in his car and drive off. I think he was just trying his luck to add to his wallet.

The second day we drove through Arkansas and we decided to stay at an RV camp near Texarkana. The first one we choose was in a book we had, when we found it the placed looked so bad we turned around and retraced our route back to Flying J and went to an RV park near them.
It turned out to be he best choice we had cable TV to get the news and weather. In the morning we had breakfast at Flying J and departed to Texas, which was only a few miles away. In no time at all we picked up Hwy 59 in Texas and soon we were passing familiar places from our trip a few months ago. Before long we were in Livingston Texas and parked at the Escapees RV Park there.

The rig did okay, it got us here, we had a problem with the truck over heating when going up hills and had to turn the air conditioning off in order to keep the engine cool, we’ll have to have that looked after once we are settled. We found that we have a leak in the trailer that will be fixed soon also.

Backing he rig takes some getting used to especially if one doesn’t have much experience in backing. I figure that with experience I’ll get better at backing.

Other than thinking we had lost one of our cats no other big deals happened. The cat story is that when we left the first Flying J we thought she was with us, and when we got to Texarkana we couldn’t find her and we were all depressed thinking she had escaped out of the trailer back in Tennessee. After a few hours she come waltzing out acting like she was some celebrity. She has found a place in the trailer to hide and as yet we haven’t located it, her name is PIA, short for Pain In the A** Cat. She lives up to her name now and then.

Closer and Closer to leaving

The new owners showed up and brought their stuff with then in a big moving van and rental truck.Their stuff filled the upstairs part of the barn. Odd to see so much stuff in the barn.
They have four children three boys and a girl. The children had a great time running about and exploring the barn, house and fields.

This is that awkward time between going and not going, neither here nor there. There are things to do, but only in the right order.

The weather has cleared and it is a bright beautiful day with a light breeze, the sun and breeze feels so good on one's skin, a very nice day.

Getting even closer to leaving

The farm sale is almost complete the closing was the other day and now I am waiting
for the auction to clear out all my tools and equipment. So we are getting closer to the
day we can hitch up and leave.

I am living in the trailer now for the most part still have some odds and ends to put in the
trailer, but most of the work is done accept for setting up for the auction.