Repaired Camera and New Awning, Life is Good

The remains of the old awning. The fabric ripped in the wind as we neared Flagstaff, AZ. The recorded wind speed was 60 and we drove into it at 40-45 mph. The awning was still attached at the feet and the top part rolled onto the highway. We were about 3 miles from an RV park when it happened.

And here it is, the new awning put on today. It took three appointments to it done. It cost just under $1200.00. And I also got a new a/c cover for the front unit. We also need a new solar panel as the one we have is cracked across the corners now. That means I must go to Ancira again to get it. I got the awning at Camping World and saved about $300.00 over the cost from Ancira. I don't recommend them for repair as their cost are to high.

The camera is back from being repaired. That was a 10 day trip and a 6 day travel time to us. It look like new and works fine. Now there can be pics with our time here.

We also must go back to the Ford house for more "light" repairing. Going to CW, the turn signals worked till the brake pedal was depressed. The "battery" light comes on and goes off with brake pedal depressed, flashes with the turn signals, and goes off when the gas pedal is depressed but comes back on when the pedal is released. Plus the a/c repair is not cold, grease on the carpet and, so far, finally, get the inspection sticker remains off the dash. All that is on Monday, hopefully.

We did see another identical rv like ours at Camping Worlds rv half. It had the manual satellite dish (we have a King Dome), no solar system (we have 240 watts and six '05 6v batteries) and we have the Howard steering system. The coach was stickered at $69,995. Will try to get the mileage, we have 81,0xx. We started with 666xx back in '05. It was a 36B model like ours.

Its Monday and No Awning

Our appointment was for 10 am in south Fort Worth at Camping World. We are 29 miles away in Weatherford. At 8:28 am a call came in from CW to reschedule our appointment. The service tech was not there as he had taken his young son, baby they believe, to the hospital this morning. We were totally discounted and ready to go. Actually DW had gone on an errand and was not back or we would have left by then. So, we re-attached and will try again Saturday at 10 am.

Neither of us have contacts. DW's are yet to arrive and mine will be about a week. I did go ahead and have new glasses made in case. So we will try again to get the right fit for us.

The camera is due back on the 6th via ground. With its return we will be able to get pics again.

No other news from here. We are just relaxing and enjoying the area and Shirley's parents and golf.

You that are traveling, drive safe and enjoy the view.

And Its Raining Again

And it did all night. Hard with some hail. We are under a tree so we have some help with the overhead protection. Our camera is on the way back from being repaired. Pics to follow next week. And the scheduled replacement of our awning did not happen due to the rain that afternoon. We are rescheduled for Monday at 10 am.

The contacts are not working out well. I have very good vision in my left eye from 5 ft to 100 yards. My right eye is blurred at any distance. And the lenses are so thin they will not release when I or DW tries to get it on the eye. It just folds back on the end of the finger. It takes 5-10 tries to get it in. I went back yesterday and we have new lenses on order, be in in about a week. We will try again. Played golf with them and could not see well enough to hit the ball or make a put. My worst round ever, 2-4 over on every hole. Not fun. I have new glasses and will play a round with them before the lenses get here to se how they work.

Shirley's new lenses are not in yet so there is nothing new to report. Not much else to add. its going to get into the mid 90's next week, IE HOT! Oh, playing a computer game called runescape. There is a free version and a hopping $5.00 monthly membership. You might try it and see what you think. If you like it, find me, texasguy028, and I'll give you the TIP page on shortcuts and cheats.

A Memorial Day Tribute

THIS TOOK PLACE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT IT STILL SAYS IT ALL TODAY!

It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical training. Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell , Ky. , and was moving way too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient. The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque. My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time. All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started again, the car in front of me stopped. A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over toward the grove. I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking. I waited to see the butt chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late. He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame. I watched as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and set it upright again. Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove off. I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a thousand lectures. That simple salute

This single act of honoring his fallen brother and his flag - encapsulated all the values in one gesture . It said "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an American soldier." I thank God for examples like that. And on this Memorial Day, We remember all those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them.

For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will NEVER know!

I got this in my email today and wanted to pass it on.

Memoral Day

The day to remember all those that have given their all so you and I can vote, speak our piece, and say in print what we like or dislike about anything without the fear of repercussion. Keep up with the events to our south in Venezuela for the "democratization" of a country by Chavez, the dictator. The opposing tv station went off the air today when it protested his decisions.

We both have contacts. Shirley went in for multi focal lenses and got bifocal. Which are not working for her. She needs to see close up as well as distance to drive. She has gone back and will try the mono vision which is one lens for distance and one for closeup. They are on order.

My first time is now. I asked for distance and to be able to see the roads signs before I get there. So far in my 3rd day, I got blurred vision and I can see 50 yards. Further or closer is not readable. I have bought some reading glasses at +1.25 to see the computer and read a paper. Putting the lens in the eye is a trip. Not use to sticking my finger in my eye. And taking out the lenses is worse. For me its not fun. The lenses are so thin that they fold readily and are hard to handle. Shirley had to put the left lens in twice. We have a backup pair and we are on the left backup now. The other one is torn or something.

It has rained since we moved in. It is sprinkling now and there is rain, 30% or better, in the forecast till next Saturday. Our wet towels don't dry its so humid.

We have Moved to Weatherford, TX

Our stay at the Bear Creek campground was shortened when a camper complained about our taking over the site he wanted. We had stayed at the other park 13 days and moved to get the full hook ups at Bear Creek, space #2. The ranger came by and said we had stayed 13 days already and the liimt is 14 days at any park at the lake in a 28 day period. Since we had paid for 14 more days we could stay but we had to move at the end of that period. We need to look for a place to move to.

We looked at all the rv commercial parks in the Fort Worth, Weatherford area and stumbled on this one when we were headed home. Its a small park of 16 spaces just off the US180 split form I20 in east Weatherford. Parking on grass with 50 amp, water and sewer. The price is $8.00 a day to finish out the month, then its $225.00 plus electric, TXU ($0.14 per kwh) not the park, with a 3 month stay. Pretty much works out to the $10-$11 per day we had payed to the COE at Benbrook Lake.

We are located at 2505 Fort Worth highway, US180, east of town or down the hill from Wal-mart. And about 5 minitues from DW's mom and dad. And two close golf courses and three more a little bit further away.

We will go to Camping World on Tuesday afternoon for our awning. Our cost will be about $1000.00. While out on the raod, I'll get propane and get ready for the coming Texas summer. DW is job looking and when one is secured, we will move to that location and set up house. As with the Tab'ster we need to put cash into the bank account.

Pictures will be later as the camera is going in for repairs. The strap came loose in Andrews earlier this year, fell on the concrete and bent the batter cover. While we are parked, its time for that repair. Soon it will be all fixed and ready to break again.

Gas is cheaper by the new Wal-mart east of town and the Raceway nearby, $299.9. Otherwise its $3.05 or more on the interstate. Drive safe and enjoy the sights.

GPS: 32*45.483, 97*43.397
DW: 149.7*, 48.7* elevation, -21.6 skew.
DTV: 76085 or GPS

Beginning of a New Week

We both visited the eye doctor and got that done. Shirley has her new contacts and is trying them out. She hasn't wore contacts in several years so its a new beginning for her. I've never wore contacts so it will be a new experience for me. I just haven't got them yet. There on order and should have them this week.

The awning for the rv is not in. The replacement is a new type as the older type is not made any more. And is cost more money too. It should be in later part of the week and installed by Monday. All that remains is a new a/c cover and a new solar panel. The broke one is cracked across the corners. Not sure of the size in watts and the physical size will be different.

We will be moving to a RV park in Weatherford. We found a "retirement park" for $225 plus electric. We will be on grass and the space is about 50 foot wide x 50 foot long. Beats the regular RV park with the width at 20 feet or awning to RV. Its a small park, maybe 16 spaces. We will set up the outside dish for tv (tree in the way of the king dome) and the internet.

This location is close to Wal-mart, gas, Ford house but not Camping World. Its probably a good 25 miles. When I go there I will get propane that day. We are down to a quarter tank or 5 gallons. Last time we got propane was in Moab, UT.

You guys have fun out there. We are settling down for the summer here. Our long range plans include work and money and a Texas summer.