You can't return to the same city twice

Jan 17: We arrived in Tucson after dark and after a long hard drive. There were high winds and a lot of traffic. I drove most of the way. We got up early and found the laundermat. Helen exercised while I washed clothes. We found out that this park is a "seniors only" park. There are lots of rules concerning children and pets. Neither are liked very much. We took the RV to Mesa RV a few miles closer to Tucson in order to get the radio replaced. We were noticed by a salesman when Helen was looking at diesel RV and we promised to return later in the day. We drove to Tucson looking for the old and funky part of town that we remembered from our visit ten years ago. It is all gone. We found vacant buildings, empty lots and new offices.
When we returned to Mesa RV to pick up our rig Ray, the salesman, saw us and began the sales process. "Have you ever driven a diesel", he asked. I had not so he got another salesman to take us out for a test ride. It was great. The air bags prevented us from feeling the un-even road and the acceleration was great. But the damn thing cost $200,000.
We were there until 6:30 as they tried to give us their "best deal". We said no and finally went home. We had a late supper and then to bed.
We decided not to get a new RV or the CB radio. Today will be about relaxing and doing some work.

Car trouble in Las Cruces

Jan 15: We are now in Tucson, AZ. We drove through Texas and spent two days in Las Cruces, NM. Anyone that is planning to come to Las Cruces should make a point of eating at Lorenzo's Restaurant. Great Italian food. And he does magic.
On Saturday, Jan 14 we went to the balloon festival. More than 100 hot air balloons ascended. Some were funny shapes. We were able to get right up to the crews and help them launch the balloons.

After that we went to the farmers' market. Great food and crafts. Even custom made dog biscuits.

On Saturday evening, we unhooked the car and drove over the mountain to the White Sands proving grounds. Once over the mountain the alternator quit. We turned around and tried to get back on the power in the battery. We didn't make it. The car died at a Jiffy Lube and this was the one time that neither one of us had a cell phone. We called AAA and got towed to Pep Boys. We left the car there and had the tow truck driver take us back to the RV Park.
Today we picked up the car ($400 repair bill) and drove to Tucson, AZ. Heavy winds and dust storms. We got to the Voyager RV park at about 7pm in the dark. This place has a lot of rules. -- Howard

We fight the ants

Jan 11: Yet another trip to WallMart to get the super ant poison. We found that the liquid bait works. We put the dog in a kennel and spent the day in downtown San Antonio. Riverwalk is great but they had drained the river for maintenance. The so-called craft market was a disapointment. We had a dog free night.

Remember the Alamo

Jan 10: We drove all day and got to San Antonio, TX. We are staying at an elaborate RV resort on the edge of town. Raggles had an "accident" in the RV when we were getting gas and we had to spend time cleaning up. He can't seem to get used to the RV.

We are getting about 6.5 miles per gallon over the road. of course this is the result of pulling the car.

Tomorrow we will put the dog in a kennel and expore downtown S.A. -- Howard

Ready to head West

Jan 10: I woke up early from he sound of a train passing by. The sound of the semi’s on the nearby highway got me going. It was 5 am but I am ready to be on the road. Helen and Raggles are sleeping. The ants have gotten worse. -- Howard

Hot Times in LA

Jan 9: Today was beautiful. The temperature was about 70 degrees under sunny skies. The morning was spent on maintenance. I did two loads of wash, Helen cleaned the RV. We have been invaded by small ants and have tried several methods to get rid of them. Once the chores were done, we got a “drive yourself” tape from the office and headed into Cajun country. Our first stop was the Tabasco factory. It is located on top of a salt dome south of Lafayette. We had lunch at the store and had a disappointing factory tour.

We visited New Iberia and then headed back to the RV. On the way we stopped at a Daiquiri drive through shop. They are all over this part of LA. Drinking and driving does not seem to be a problem. We also stopped at a Cajun Asian take out store and bought dinner. I had shrimp and rice and Helen had fried oysters and shrimp and rice.

The Internet was so slow that it was not worth connecting. We ate supper, watched television and went to bed early. Tomorrow we drive to San Antonio. -- Howard

We eat crawfish

Jan 8: We drove to Lafayette, LA. We found a KOA campground and lucked out. All the other campgrounds were full. They were occupied either by Katrina refugees or by FEMA personnel or by insurance adjusters. This campground decided to keep some spaces open for people passing through. After setting up camp and looking around we went to dinner at Randols a local Cajun restaurant and dance hall. Helen had a huge serving of crawfish and I had crawfish eteufey. Crawfish are small shellfish shaped like little lobsters. Each was about two inches long. You pull off the tail and squeeze out the meat.
The place had live Cajun music and a local Krewe was preparing for Mardi Gras. They were in costume. We danced a bit and got talking with the people. The waitress even helped Helen get the meat out of the little things.

Raggles slept in the car. On the way home we stopped at Wall Mart (again!) for a whole chicken for the dog. That will last a few days. – Howard

RV Problems

Jan 8: As we were getting ready to leave we realized the radio did not work. Also all the things that we had plugged into the 12-volt system were not working. I tried calling the Good Sam network but was put on hold too long. I got out the manuals and traced the problem to the fuses for the chassis the 15-amp fuse was blown. We had too many things in the various power outlets. Another trip to Wall Mart and I came back with a variety of fuses. I replaced the fuse and everything worked again. – Howard

Mississippi Revisited

Jan 8: We are now in Louisiana heading west. We will stay in Layfayette, LA tonight. Last night we were in Hattiesburg, MS the site of my civil rights adventures 41 years ago. All the campgrounds were full because of FEMA and hurricane refugees so we stayed in the WallMart parking lot. This is the second time we have done that. The neat thing about “dry” camping at WallMart is that they have 24 hour security. There was one other RV and several over the road truckers.

We were in Birmingham, AL on Thursday night, all day Friday and Saturday morning. I was working at the Wynfrey Hotel and Helen caught up with her email and shopped. I checked the oil in the RV on Saturday and found that the oil filler cap was missing. So we went on a mission to replace it. We had to go to a Ford dealer where, thankfully, one was available. This morning when I checked the oil I found the cap. It was left in the engine compartment by the people who did my last oil change.

I resisted the temptation to wander the streets of Hattiesburg again. The past is the past. We got on the road, looking for Cajun country.

Raggles has been a bit of a pest. He does not want to be left alone. When I was working in Birmingham we left him in the car. He not only barked but he shit on our coats. We will have to find doggie day care in the future.

It is 74 degrees out and we are in short sleeves.

We have seen a lot of broken trees and broken billboards but otherwise little damage from the hurricanes. – Howard

It is all the same

Jan 6: So far we’ve been on the road for 5 days. I am struck by how all of the area we’ve been driving through is all the same. Mall after shopping center after Wal-Mart Super Center. Here we are in Birmingham, AL. We might as well be in New Jersey. On this trip I am searching for the unique side of America, if it still exists. - Helen

Helen's Birthday

Jan 3, Helen's birthday.

Helen has decided that since she changed her name when she got married she should be able to change her birthday also. Nothing is open on Jan 3. Only one museum was open. So we went to a mall and shopped and saw the movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha". Great movie.

Stuck in Virginia Beach

We left home on Monday, Jan 2 and proceeded with only a minor incident south through the Delmarva Penninsula. The minor incident was that Helen left her purse at the neighborhood Mc Donalds. But we realized it soon afterward and turned around before we got to Berlin, MD.

As we were going around Norfolk, VA on the interstate I noticed that the car we were towing was weaving back and forth behind us. The tow bar had come loose. The car was being towed by the safety cables.

We pulled over and found that the remaining tow bar was bent. We called an RV dealer that was open and got the two vehicles disconnected and got there before closing. Both the tow bar and the base plate had to be removed and replaced.

A $1000 later we were at a nearby campsite. The parts had to come from Nebraska and would be here on Wednesday, Jan 4.

Almost gone

It is now Monday, Jan 2 at 6am. The RV is in the driveway. We slept in the RV last night. Most of our clothes are packed but little of our food. The dog is confused about where to sleep and he got up at 4:30 in the am. So I (howard) am up.

Here is our proposed route:
From Ocean Pines we will travel South on Rt. 113 through the Eastern Shore of VA and over the Chesepeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Going through Norfolk we will take I-85 South through the Western part of North Carolina ( Raleigh, Charlotte) and on to Atlanta. From Atlanta we will take I-20 to Birmingham where I have a day's consulting.

From Birmingham we will continue of I-20 into Mississippi where we will visit Hattiesburg where I was during the civil rights era. And then on to New Orleans.

More later...