Freedom at last, Diane can drive!!

 Monday January 24, 2022

    The regular trip this morning Diane to PT me to do some shopping. Today was a big day, Diane went to PT using just her cane this morning she is really making good progress. She made her now famous low carb lasagna; it was great.  We talked and planned our trip to Houston in the morning. 

Tuesday Jan 25

   Today was another adventure for us! We were going to Houston to look at a 2007 Winnebago Tour and 2010 Newmar Ventana and leaving first thing this morning. We hurried through breakfast and rolled out at 10:00, sound familiar.   Stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant on way down...it was ok, Diane had the chicken enchilada, and I had the three-burrito sampler, a lot of food and we ate it all. We arrived at Best Preowned RV dealership (parking lot) and was greeted by four or five dogs roaming free.  Rudy was going crazy in the truck afraid to get out, we waited for someone to come and assure us it was OK. We spent two hours or more going through the two units.  After a while all the info swirls around in your head and you can't keep anything straight.  It was after dark by the time we got home, our brains were fried with all the what ifs you think about with big decisions like this.  Good news Diane had a roast in the crock pot, the Moho smelled great, and diner was ready.

A typical Mexican restaurant, but why so much snack food before the meal.  I didn't want to order but Brad made me.  

Wednesday January 26, 2022

   Off to PT I went to the grocery store like always to get iced tea and found some expiring T-bone steaks on sale for half price, so I bought them and few other things.  Her PT is costing us more and more money as I shop the whole time she is at PT.  After lunch we called the RV dealer told them we would take the 2010 Ventana (after one more visit, test drive etc.). After that we sat and stressed over the decision we just 'almost' made.  A nice day, a little windy and sunny so we had steak (which was delicious) and salad for dinner. Then we stressed some more.

Thursday Jan 27

   Propane tank ran out last night so after breakfast I went to Jasper for propane and to get an oil change in the truck.  Stopped at a propane place the lady comes out notices the tank is out of date but for ten bucks she can recertify I say OK she opens the valve and no can do seems valve is leaking.  I need a new tank, off to Tractor supply no tank, then Lowes no tank, then local hardware store, no tanks so I quit and go get the oil changed.  While the truck is in the shop, I called Diane and she checks other local propane places seems no one has tanks.  I get done with the oil change and head home.  By the time I get back she found just one guy who has one tank, and he is 20 miles north.  Tomorrow I'll get propane had enough driving for one day.  Burgers on the grill for dinner. Stressing over Moho

Friday Jan 28

    Diane went to PT by herself, yep, she drove into town while Rudy and I held down the fort.  Eric came over some guy on site 38 had limbs rubbing on his camper roof so we went over trimmed them up and cleaned up.  By then Diane had made a successful return from PT she was all proud of herself. We had lunch celebrating her accomplishment.  Next trick of the day was to get the propane tank from the place she found some 20 miles north of here. I put the address into my phone and off I went.  First, I'm rolling down this two-lane road speed limit 75mph a nice day window down, wind in my hair, 😊you got the picture.  I notice this sign "road narrows".  Well, it didn't just narrow in a 100yds it turned to gravel then to a driveway I slam on the brakes and take a hard left and grab my phone.  The GPS voice was not working, I should have been turning there anyway just not at 75mph.  Back on track I make a few more turns watching the GPS and get to the spot, no propane business and there is nothing at all except a rundown mobile home, I'm not getting out of the truck.  I called Diane for better directions; no phone service, mean time she is trying to call to see if I made it or not.  I finally get to a hilltop and have phone service.  I call her, get direction and try it again.  Still can't find it. Finally stopped and asked a guy where it was, and I could hardly understand him but did manage to hear U-Haul and he pointed left.  Back in the truck found the place purchased the tank and off to the Moho.  The 45-minute trip turned into a 2 1/2-hour ordeal. But it was a nice day!

Saturday January 29, 2022

   A nice morning, the wind died off and sunny.  Temp's still in the mid 30's but sunny and calm with a high in the mid 50's.  We just can't spend a day without running somewhere.  Today I went to Jasper to get a new meat thermometer seems 'someone' put in the sink to get washed, battery and all.  And I needed to pick up three items from the grocery store. I picked up meat thermometer at Lowes, went to the store, wine was on sale, so I picked some up and forgot to get one of three items we needed.  Back to the Moho Diane had made rounds and put out all the tags.  After lunch I cleaned the bathrooms, finished the work chores for the day.  We all walked for a while, Diane not as much as Rudy and me, but she made it partway.  Dry rub Ribs for diner.  YUM. Stressing over Moho.

Sunday January 30, 2022

   Another nice day. A cooked breakfast then I took Rudy and made a quick trip around the campground, checked the bathrooms they were good.  Meanwhile Diane did a load of laundry, stripped the bed and another load of laundry in. We have been gathering things for our trip tomorrow down to Houston.  She is going to PT then Rudy and I will meet her, hook up the truck and head to Grand Texas RV Resort.  This is the end of our work shift and not much going on, checked in 3 camper and 7 left today.  Starting the beginning March we won't have to clean the restroom. Can't wait.  We made a stuffed deer tenderloin stuffed with jalapeno cream cheese and wrapped with bacon. Oh YUM.

Getting out and about!

 Saturday 15 January 2022

    Terribly windy from the time we got up until we went to bed.  Nothing else to do so we took a drive

The Ocean view on 
Lake Rayburn!

halfway around the lake stopping of course for lunch.  The first place had one car in the parking lot at 10 after 12 so we moved on.  We found this restaurant in Zavalla that turned out to be pretty good.  We both had quesadillas, I had shrimp and Diane naturally had chicken and we had enough left for diner. We stopped to take some pictures of the waves where they broke over a sand bar, reminded us of the ocean. The lake is really big and the wind has a long distance to build some really big waves.  It took us half a day just to do the lower half of the lake.  Back to the Moho walked Rudy the poor thing almost blew over when he lifted his leg to pee.

Sunday 16 January 2022

     The wind let up and we had a nice day I raked up debris and started a fire.  Diane and Rudy came

Testing the Texas Beer.

out after lunch to enjoy some sunshine. I worked as hard as I could until 3pm at which time I needed to test one of the beers (Shinner Bock) that I bought yesterday.  It tasted funny so I had another just to test it and so the evening went. Burgers on the grill.

Monday 17 January 2022

  Not much going on today (that I remember) PT and some grocery shopping.

Tuesday 18 January 2022

    A nice day today and we spent it in the truck.  The nearest orthopedic Dr. we found was in Beaumont some 75 miles south.  We left in plenty of time to have lunch before her appointment or so we thought. As it turned out we had 15 minutes to spare but Diane had checked out the menu on the way down and we ordered as soon we sat down.  Diane found a Cajun/Mexican restaurant 'Tia Juanita's Fish Camp', she had blackened fish tacos and I tried the shrimp jumbo. Finished just in time to load her back up get to the Dr's office. I kind of forget about how long it takes to get her in and out of the truck, get the step stool out get her on the stool onto the running board then on her seat, fold up the walker put it in the back then get the step stool folded and put away. Wears me just typing it up.  We were planning on hitting several antique stores on the way home and maybe even hitting a big grocery store, but her appointment lasted over 1 1/2 hours.  We stopped for gas and there was an antique store in the same parking lot, but we headed home.  It was close to 6 by the time we got home.  Poor Rudy dashed out the door to pee, poor thing must of had his legs crossed. Good thing Diane had a roast in the crock pot.

Wednesday 19 January 2022

   Back on shift today with a total of one camper coming in but first was PT for Diane. Cold weather has descended upon us and we don't like it.  The high temp today was just in the low 50's. Kind of a slow day.

Thursday 20 January 2022

   Cold this morning and getting colder tonight.  The rangers came by and turned on the heaters in the bathrooms for the next several days as the low temps are to be in the mid 20's.  Busy workday with 4 campers coming in and one checking out.  We didn't go out much, I made the rounds checked the bathrooms and called it a day.  Diane made baked fish which was great and helped warm up the camper.

Friday 21 January 2022

   

    COLD this morning temp just above freezing.  We took Rudy along into PT.  While Diane worked 

Diane said 'He-- no' after
seeing this picture!

out we drove to a nearby State Park to check out the trails for bike riding.  The trails are mostly dirt but the road through the park is almost 4 miles and will do well for biking. Just as Rudy and I returned to town Diane texted she was done a little early.  We beat feet back to the Moho had lunch, walked Rudy and then headed to Nacogdoches to look at three RVs. After the two plus hour drive we arrived at Motorhomes of Texas and as it always goes, two were worn much more than the pictures depicted.  One Newmar is OK but still has some body damage issues.  We are still talking to the salesman but does look good for us.  Even the salesman said the prices in general are crazy.  All disappointed we returned to the Moho tired and wore out. We walked Rudy, went and picked up the Friday fish fry from the local restaurant and called it a day. 

Saturday 22 January 2022

   A bit colder yet today 28 this morning, good thing I disconnected water and septic last night. No PT today! We had a nice breakfast, cleaned up, did a load of laundry before we headed out.  And I'm glad to say Diane is walking with just a cane (most of the time) and we are doing some more exploring. 

Brad does like his Bar-B-Q.

Today we headed to Lufkin Texas to the H.E.B. grocery store. First of course was lunch at the Famous Lufkin BBQ restaurant. Nothing special but it was very good we both had ribs.   I dropped her off at the grocery store and went downtown to check out a coin store and to scope out the historic district.  My trip went quick, coin store was closed but downtown has several antique stores worthy of another trip.  Back to pick her up and she wasn't done, the place was huge and took a while to find all our stuff.  Diane walked the whole time just holding onto the cart.  By the time we returned home she was wore out but still did the dishes before crashing on the sofa.

And work begins!!

 Sunday 9 January 2022

     Got up this morning it was already 64 degrees and that was before the sun came out, what a nice morning.  After breakfast we opened the windows to get some fresh air in the old Moho.  We (including Diane) went to the grocery store. Her first-time shopping since we left Dillsburg.  I pulled right up to the door blocking the cross walk and half the road to get her out and into one of those electric carts.  They were old and kind of abused looking, basket dented, rubber bumper was falling off and when you let go of the throttle it stopped so hard that she almost fell off.  But she was in the store and helped pick out the right items. She was happy to be out of the camper and more importantly helping with everyday chores. By the time we returned put away the groceries she was wore out.  It was so nice outside, she took a pain pill and sat outside most of the afternoon. Scott came over to talk about our shift tomorrow and ask if the ranger (Aly) was over to give us access to the computer system. We have not yet met a ranger, but all the volunteers say we start working Monday morning.  We did find out all three other volunteers have paying p/t jobs outside of the park and rearrange the schedule to fit their 'other' jobs.  Oh well enough of that.  Such a nice day we have steak, shrimp and asparagus on the grill, Diane sat out with me until almost dark.  We actually had some asparagus left to eat with the meal.  What a great day.

 Monday 10 January 2022

      Ready or not here we go!  We headed over to the guard shack at 8:30 to meet with Scott and get some training.  Around 9:00 Eric came over as well apparently, he did not go to the funeral in North

No white caps on the 
lake tonight, Beautiful!!

Dakota. Between the two of them we came out half confused and half ready to work.  Aly our ranger called to say she would not be over and hoped we found everything we needed. No computer access, no keys and with a very brief instruction we headed out to work, good news only 4 campers checking in this morning.  Just after lunch a different ranger stopped in (Bailey) with paperwork to sign and a set of keys.  Oh yea we are ready to go. Sometime during the day we got an email to access recreation.gov (the management side), so Diane got in, played around and we had access to the computer system from the Moho.  The best thing that happened today was Rudy's dream came true, he got to ride in the golf cart.  It warmed up nicely this afternoon so Diane and Rudy rode along Diane could put out site tags if I got close enough to the posts. By quitting time (5pm) we were seasoned veterans.  Diane made her famous French Onion chicken dish, yum. We made it through day one.

Tuesday 11 January 2022

   Day two of work and day two of physical therapy.  First was therapy at 8:30am.  We left here at 8am yes we were both dressed and ready to go(almost) at 8am.  We are already in a rut, Diane goes to therapy I go to Lowes, Walgreens and the grocery store pick her up and come home.  We were back around 11 had some lunch, then made rounds on the golf cart only 4 check-ins and Eric put the tickets out so we just rode around and looked important.  I went out to the local dinner and picked up their famous catfish diners they were OK nothing to get excited over.

Wednesday 12 January

   Another therapy day and still no luck getting Diane's prescription filled.  Friday they (Walgreen's) were working on it.  Saturday they called to say it was filled in Dillsburg, we called Rite Aid to have them cancel the prescription, then called Walgreen's back. Stopped in today still not ready.  Good it isn't a life critical drug.  Back to the Moho to do rounds.  No check-ins today so we rode around looking important.  I did some weed whacking around our site especially at the septic hook up area.  On our last round a camper flagged us down and wanted to change sites. Diane work for awhile on the computer and eventually figured out how to do that on the computer, she was so proud.  Just salad with grilled chicken for diner.

Thursday 13 January 2022

  A really nice day with temp's near 70 and sunny most of the day.  First order of business after breakfast

Driving round the lake,
lots to see from other views!!

was dumping the tanks.  Since I weed whacked all around the septic hookup yesterday I noticed as soon as I opened the valves the sewage seeping up out of the ground and running down into the woods.  Well that explained why the grass was so green and so high.  Well, we got in the truck and headed over to the main office about 10 miles down the road stopping for lunch of course first.  We found Stump's Bar and Grill in the town of Sam Rayburn I had shrimp of course and Diane got the small (3) chicken finger basket, I would have ordered the large(6 piece).  You know everything is bigger in Texas and down here a chicken finger is half a breast. So she ended up with 1 1/2 breast and I had to help her with the second one. Wow they were big.  Next over to the office.  I went in and the lady (a volunteer) called several numbers but on one answered.  We could hear people talking but none would answer the phone.  But once I said "hey we have raw sewage running through the park" a maintenance guy was on his way before I got out of the office and was at our site before we got back. Now I know how to get their attention.   After they left we had our first fire here at the Park.

Rudy left us know he wasn't happy sitting on the ground, so Brad had to get is chair out.......made him happy.

Friday 14 January 2022

   The usual trip to therapy except today Walgreen's had her script ready for pick up.  Another nice day, so after lunch we sat outside.  Diane and Rudy sat by the fire while I raked and burned sticks and pine cones. We stayed out all day Diane even walked through the stone and grass to sit by the fire.  It is great to have her getting around a little better and even going into restaurants instead of me doing pick up all the time.  I took the bedding over to wash in the volunteer building, did it all in one load in between loading the fire up with more debris. We got our first Amazon delivery today, it is starting to feel like home.

Diane said last fire for a few days,
I need to let the fire ring cool down!! 😃

We made it to Texas!!

 Monday 3 January 2022

     What is the worst thing to see when you get up and it is a travel day, that's right snow.  It rained most

of the night and turned to snow as the storm ended.  It was only an inch or so and only on the grass and vehicles. The truck is hooked up and we were thinking we would get an early start today.  Not so. As luck would have it as I put the slides in, we heard a crunching noise the slide toppers were covered with ice and snow.  Not a big deal I got the ladder section out of the bin went to put it on and found out I didn't have enough room to get it hooked with the truck already connected.  So, I put that ladder away got out my other ladder went up on the snow-covered roof to clean off the toppers.  I quickly discovered that snow on a Moho roof is very, very slippery.  I managed to clear the ice without falling off, but it was scary.  Back down put the ladder away then inside to warm up. My hands were freezing. But we were still on the road by 9:30. No snow on the roads at all in fact they were dry by the time we were rolling. A much nicer drive today almost no traffic and the 244 miles went by quickly as we enjoyed beautiful views of the snow-covered mountains of Alabama.  We arrived at Bonita Lakes in Meridian MS, not quite 5 and half hours of driving, much better than the 7 hours yesterday.  We decided to stay for 2 days just needed to rest up and do some grocery shopping.  Diane is anxious to start her P/T but I needed a break.  

Tuesday 4 January 2022

    We had a nice breakfast on the grill bacon and eggs. Very good.  I went to grocery store Diane took a pain pill and laid down for a rest.  Sitting in the seat for 6 to 7 hours a day made her sore again.  I think we both may have needed the extra day.  I came back unloaded and put away the groceries and helped her get a shower. I made chicken on the grill.  It was a fairly nice evening Diane came out just to sit on the chair for a while this was her first trip out since coming home from the hosipital.  She lasted a half hour and headed back in.  After dinner I started packing up for our travel day tomorrow.

Wednesday 5 January 2022

    After a quick breakfast we packed up, hooked up the truck and pulled out around 9:50 for the 215

miles from Meridian MS to River View RV resort in Vidalia LA.  It was a warm day and a nice drive, mostly interstate highways. We stopped at three rest areas and once for fuel and still parked by 3:20pm.  What a nice campground right on the Mississippi River you

The Mississippi River
from the Levee

could watch the barges go up and down the river.  A nice walking/biking trail all along the levees. It was quite warm in the mid 60's and sunny we had burgers on the grill while looking over the list of seafood restaurants in the area.  We already decided to come back here and stay for a few days just to eat if nothing else.  Once again Diane made it outside for a bit while Rudy and I walked around the levee trying to find a spot to turn the Moho around in the morning. 

Thursday 6 January 2022

   This should be our last day of travel and only 189 miles from Vidalia LA to Brookeland TX.  We got a

Sam Rayburn Lake

good jump on the day with the truck being hooked up we were packed and rolling at 10am.  We needed propane and this campground sells it so we pulled up to the propane station. It took 40 minutes for them to find a guy to pump propane and then he had to walk from the far end of the campground.  And it turned out Pat the propane guy saw our PA plates and ask if we were ever at Ives Run, he is trying to get a job there, what are the chances of that happening.  Anyway, we are on the road by 10:45 and only had 189-mile day. No interstate roads today 4 lane roads with traffic lights and cross traffic then a few 2 lane roads.  With no rest areas we had to watch for a spot big enough to pull the Moho into.  Finally, I had to pee, so I just stopped along the road where the berm was just wide enough.  Rudy wouldn't go outside, and Diane was hungry so off we went again.  Again, just in time we found a church parking lot pulled in for some lunch and took a decent break.  We ate, walked Rudy twice, made some coffee and mapped out our last 68 mile.  Looks like we should arrive 2:30 to 3 time frame.  All rested up and with coffee in hand we hit the road again. Just as we were about to cross over into Texas Diane spy's this sign LOW clearance 12' 3" and we are 12'9" so I pull off to the side of road get the map out and the only bypass is 25 mile down a two-lane road.  So off we go speed limit is 55mph, but the road was so rough I went about 45mph and still we had stuff falling from the cupboards, chairs and even her walker fell off the sofa.  Needless to say, our short day of travel turn into a terrible tooth jarring kidney shaking long day.
  We finally arrived at Mill Creek Campground around 5pm just enough daylight left to get settled in before dark. 

 Friday 7 January 2022

  No time to rest.  We headed into Jasper for Diane's first P/T appointment at 10 am. It was almost 12:30 when she came out and they worked her hard.  We hit a BBQ joint for lunch then home a pain pill for Diane and she was out.  I finished hooking up the Moho, meet one of the other hosts here and he wasn't

sure what we were supposed to be doing but the rangers will be here Monday and we should just wait.  So that is the plan for now we will just wait.  We made chicken on the grill and enjoyed a fair enough day.

Not a bad view from our patio!!

Saturday 8 January 2022

   Got up this morning took Rudy out for a walk when I noticed the grill was almost off of the picnic table. I'm guessing some coons were in the grease pan (which was almost full) dumped it over smeared grease all over the grill the top, sides, even the bottom was covered.  Grease dripped down between the boards of the picnic table and onto the ground. I cleaned it just enough to make breakfast scrapple and eggs then afterwards cleaned everything up.  The other host camp back over to see how we were making out and informed us he had a death in the family and was leaving for a week or so and our first shift would be Monday morning.  Now we have no training or even a list of duties, no keys, no way to access any buildings and have not met a ranger, but we start Monday.  This should be good.

On the Road Again!!

 Thursday 30 December 2021

   What a difference a day makes.  All week we have been planning on 7 to 10 days here in Baileyton with in patient care at a rehab facility.  I called her this morning and apparently the rehab center had trouble with the insurance company and poof she was good enough to come home and have home

I think he missed her!!

therapy.  So I went picked her up and we were home by 2:30.   She made it up the steps we got settled order wings for dinner and called it a day.  Rudy lays on Diane's lap or by her side all the time.  I think he really missed her. We made plans for New Years Eve, (just watching TV and for pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day.

Friday December 31,2021

   Got up made us a nice breakfast cleaned up the Moho a bit before the home therapy gals showed up.  They arrived just after lunch and I took Rudy for a long walk so they could work without Rudy barking every time they moved.  We just made the first loop when I saw the nurse looking for me.  I went in and they said there wasn't much more they could do in camper and suggested we get to Texas and get her in a good rehab facility with a regimented work out.  So I go back down to the office to tell them we are leaving on the 2nd. The poor lady in the office had to once again change our reservation back to daily.  
So now it is New Year's Eve we have a good idea what we are doing. Ahhhhh  We had burgers on the grill the temp's were in the mid 60's, a nice New Year's Eve of course Diane spent to night on the sofa.  I had a glass of wine and Diane had a few pain killers.  We were both asleep well before midnight.

Saturday January 1, 2022   Happy New Year

    Very breeze today but the temperature was to reach 74 degrees.  That's right 74 New Year's Day. A nice cooked breakfast then we started packing for the trip to Alabama tomorrow. Diane made it outside to sit for almost an hour just to enjoy the nice day and get out of the Moho.  After lunch her and Rudy took a nice nap while I kept packing and cleaning up the place.  Pork and sauerkraut for dinner it wasn't fancy, but it was nice to celebrate New Years together.

Cleaned up and ready to roll!!

Sunday January 2, 2022 

     We were up early enough but still didn't get on the road until 10:15. Diane helped the best she could but I still had most everything to do myself.  The worst thing was the truck she always set it up, hooked up the brakes and got the transmission ready to go.  I trusted her after all these years and today I had to figure it out of myself.  Not fun.  We got on the road stopped for fuel and then it happened we hit I75 traffic going south.  Just like I95 rolling traffic jam 35mph, stop, 65mph, stop and so on.  Finally we get to Chatanooga and yep it got worst 5-10 mph for 30 miles I thought I was gone to die. We finally pulled into Wills Creek Campground in Fort Payne Al around 5:00pm.  What a long day of driving.  After record warm temperatures all winter, a little reality check tonight, temps are going down to the mid 20's.  74 New Year's Day and 25 tonight.