Checking Out The Area

Since arriving here in Fentress (Don’t blink, you’ll miss it!), I haven’t done too much, just a little exploring of the area.  I have found a church that I like in San Marcus. it’s not too   big, but there is a lot going on, very active.  Afterwards, I wondered around town just to see what there was to do, not much.  The main thing in town is  Texas State University and the support stuff that students need.  There are two very large Outlet Malls a few miles from the center of town and they are very busy.  If you want or need it, it’s probably there.  Most everything is out side of the city.  Then on the way home, I checked out LuIing, 10 miles away, just a little country town.

                            

Yesterday, I went over to see Bill at Camping World to see about getting the 5ver fixed.  I showed him some pictures and he will send someone out to take a look and write an estimate to send to the insurance company.  That way I don’t have to bring it in, because I’m sure I will have to wait on parts.  I also met a former RVer that I met on line, for coffee.  We had a nice visit, sharing stories for a couple of hours. 

Just to check out the area, I took the back roads.  There are a lot of cows out there, with and without horns.  Even though there is hardly any traffic,  you still have to be careful.  You have to watch out for those nuts that pass when there is a double yellow line and a hill that you can’t see past.  I had to actually apply the brakes and pull off onto the grassy shoulder for him to get passed the other car.  What was he thinking? 

On the way back I took a couple of other back roads and went into Lockhart, stopping at Lockhart State Park to check it out. It is a small park with 20 camp sites, some for RVs, most for tent.  There is also a recreation hall, day use area with a playground and swimming pool in the summer.  Don’t forget the public 9 hole golf course if you’re interested in that. 

                                

    

I didn’t realize it earlier, but it seems that it is just inside the Lockhart city limits on TX 20.  I also found out that there is a nice new Wal Mart that DOESN’T have a gas station.

From there I headed home for a light lunch/dinner, just a half sandwich.  Later I had desert, 3-2-1 cake and a half glass of Riesling wine and settled down to watch a bit of TV.  That was it.

I hope that you all had a great weekend.  Even with all that is going on with my 5ver, life is still a lot better than living any other life style.

Thanks for visiting

  What?    Do I Have to?

Susan and Angel

Leisure Resort Location

                              

                                       Angel’s view from her perch.

I arrived at Leisure Resort in Fentress, TX for my next Workcamping gig yesterday afternoon.  I was escorted to a site that had a tree that would block my bedroom slide.  Even moving to avoid the tree, wouldn’t work, so we went to find another site.  When I moved out of the site we had to move a trailer.  In order to get to the new site (76) I needed to follow another road to make a wider right hand turn.  My escort wanted to make sure that we avoided another trailer.  The jeep that normally goes on that trailer was parked in front of the MH.  When I looked in the mirror, I thought that I would miss it, but I forgot about the swing of the 5ver in back of the tires and caught the fender of the jeep.  Fortunately it was only the fender, no other body damage on the jeep.  However I can’t say that about the 5ver.  It damaged the back panels where the back jack control, clearance light  and the electrical plug connection are,as well as the panel on the slide, maybe the back corner too.  Fortunately it didn’t affect the operation of said jacks and connection.  I’m not sure about the back panel.

                                                     The Jeep.

                                 

         All other damage was already there and it shouldn’t be too bad to repair.

                                                      “My Spot”

                             

        

I called the insurance company and Bill at Camping World (CW) earlier today.  I’ll bring pictures in to CW some time next week to find out when I can get it fixed.  I think from now on I will get out and look more often than I need to. 

This time it was much more upsetting than any of the others, because it shouldn’t have happened.    After I got everything set up, I went over to the office to meet Sheila.  We talked about what I would be doing.  We’ll get all the paper work done on Monday and then she wants be to help decorate for their Halloween Weekend.  If anyone is interested, there is a coupon on their website for 30% off camping for that weekend.   I returned home with a bag of ice  to the smell of several campfires.   That was yesterday.

This morning I slept in until 7:00 am and fixed a light breakfast and took Angel for a hike on the nature trail on the south end of the park.  It parallels the San Marcos River and there are parts where you can access the river and dogs can go in, as they are not allowed in the camping part.  We stopped and talked to three girls that were trying to tire out their dog, playing fetch, throwing sticks into the river.  She was having a blast.  We hiked to the end  and back.  There were even people tubing.  They must have been crazy as the water was really, really, REALLY cold.

                              

                         That’s the girls and the dog on the bank of the river.

 

    The river near where the girls were.                     The beginning of the path.

                            

                                        About half way to the end.

   

                 Angel posing on a log that designates the end of the property.

   

          View looking back up stream.                     View of the trail going back.

    

                                      A few wild flowers along the trail.

  

    View going back down that little hill.                             Almost home.

After a short nap, we went into San Marcos to Wal-Mart.  I needed eggs and a few other thing that I was nearly out of.

I hope you enjoyed the hike.

Thanks for visiting

  Hey, Mom I’m not goin’ in there, it’s cold.

Susan and Angel

At Leisure Resort- Good News/Bad News

GN ///////  Just checking in.  I decided to get a tire monitor system installed and was finished at Camping World before noon and headed to the new job  in Fentress TX.  Got set  up and am sitting comfortably in my home on wheels.  It’s Friday night and the campers are coming in, building their campfires.  I like to smell the campfires, but I don’t miss the smoke in my eyes.  After I was set up I went to the office to let Sheila know that I was here and to find out what my schedule would be.  Well, I’m not on the schedule, because she wants me to do the decorating for the Halloween weekend.  Then within two weeks there will be the Pecan Festival.  Somewhere in between I will learn the reservation system.  I should be able to go up to Potter’s Creek for one day while the Pink Flamingos are there for their rally.

BN ///////  I did it again, this time when making a turn I took a fellow Workamper’s jeep with me.  Fortunately his fender is all that was damaged and easily replaced, however “My Spot” didn’t fare to well.  I will be taking it back to fix the left rear panel, right where all the connections are.  I was able to get the back jacks down and the electrical connected.  This time I was almost to tears.  I’m tired of spending so much time fixing my rig. 

I’ll post pictures later.   It’s time for bed.

Thanks for visiting

  Again?

Susan And Angel

Learning New Things

This morning after seeing how things were going regarding the status on the repair work, I headed over to Colleen’s house.  She has graciously offered to help me with editing information  on my blog and setting up another one to highlight my artwork.  She has also helped me with the Picasa program.  I really appreciate the help as I am definitely a newbie when it comes to anything with computers.  Once I get over or past that learning curve I’ll be okay.  Thank you, Colleen for all the help.  Now I just have to read and do.  Birdie also came over to work on Live Writer.  We got a lot accomplished and decided to go out for a bite of lunch.  We met Margareta at Schlotsky’s where they offer a Pic-2. (any two items   (i.e.. 1/2 a sandwich & a bowl of soup or 1/2 a salad or 1/2 a pizza or any combination of them) for a set price.  We all enjoyed our lunch and then we all met back at Colleen’s to continue on the computers.

                            

                           Birdie  Margareta  Colleen   and   me

I got back to Camping World around 5:15 pm, just in time to speak with the service manager,  Bill Heinrick. 

                          

He told me that they got the slide topper on.  There was a problem with the one that had come in, so they ordered another ASAP.  It came in today,  I had also asked if they could take out the icemaker, so that was done too.  I decided, since you never know what the water is like in any CG and the ice maker hasn’t worked since I have had it, it was just in the way and I could use the freezer space.  I can make my own ice cubes or buy it by the bag in the summer.

So it’s one more night at Camp CW.  Hopefully all the loose ends will be tied up and I can get on with what comes next on this journey called LIFE.

Thanks for visiting

  Boooorrrring !!!!!

Susan and Angel

Visiting while “My Spot”is Being Worked On

                                    

View from where “My Spot” was parked at Camping World (CW).  If you click on the picture you can see the horses behind the fence.

I left West TX Sunday night and got as far as the rest area south of Temple to get a bit of sleep.  I woke up after not enough sleep. (Too much noise from all the ‘big trucks’.) I found that I was blocked in by trucks double parked because all the spots were filled.  So I went into the restroom and by the time I got back one of the trucks had left.  Fortunately, it was the one in front and I was able to pull out.  By 5:30 am I was on the road, mainly because I wanted to get through Austin before rush hour on Monday morning.  I was heading to Camping World to finish repairs started in September and got there by 7:30 am, I was the first one in line waiting for them to open.  I introduced myself to Bill Heinrich, the service manager, who I have been communicating with for the past 2 weeks and he got everything in motion and I left to meet with fellow bloggers for lunch.

                             

L to R  me, Birdie, Margareta, and Colleen, at the Fork and Spoon in New Braunfels TX.  We had a great lunch.  Food was good and the conversation even better.  We all had stories to tell and thought we should let the waitress have her table as it was during the lunch hour and we had been there for a while, so we just took it outside to continue.  I believe it was the owner that took the picture.  I am glad that we went on Monday, because the bakery was closed and I’m sure that I would have bought something that I shouldn’t.  We all parted promising to get together again. 

I headed back to CW with the stops mentioned in a previous post.  Angel isn’t making as much noise walking as she did with the long nails and I have had no reaction to the Flu Shot.  By the time I got back I just wanted to get my slides out and rest.  I didn’t even know that they had finished replacing the damaged panels.  Bed was calling, but I wanted to get my blog written.  One thing that I have noticed is that once I am inside with the slide out and hooked up, it is hard to believe I am sitting in the CW parking lot.  It feels comfortable because I’m in my own home.  I don’t have a TV hooked up, but I can watch a movie.

Tuesday, Colleen and I planned on meeting, so I picked her up at her home in Schertz, TX.  I met her husband, Dave and their puppies, Gretchen, Harley and Willie.  We visit a while and set off to find the Central Market (HEB) on Broadway in San Antonio (SA).  When I was in Ft. Worth with my daughter, Sandi, we went to the one in Southlake.  There they had all the bulk foods that I have been looking for since I have been here in TX.  I discovered that they had one in SA and wanted to see if it was the same type of store.  And yes it is, only bigger, just what I was looking for.

  Enough Citrus?

                       How about Tropical ?   

       

         Bread, Wine and Cheese, maybe a picnic blanket and camp fire?

   even a cow!

We also had a bit of lunch.  It took us longer to decide what to have than to eat it.  There were so many choices and they all looked soooo good.

On the way back, we were talking and I mentioned that the last time I had a glimpse of the Alamo, it was almost 60 years ago.  At that time there was nothing around the building,so Colleen showed me where it was and we had to go around the block so we could get this picture.

                                      

When we got back to Colleen’s, she helped me with accessing and downloading some free books through Kindle.  Even though I don’t have a Kindle, there is an app that allows me to download them onto my IPad.  Neat!   Thank you Colleen!     We also made plans for the next day to pick up Susan of Travel Bug, Susan and go out for coffee/tea.

It was time I headed back to CW to see how far they had progressed with the repairs.  WOW!  They  had the roof replaced and everything back on the roof and it was parked outside under a roof where I can put the slides out, but still be protected.  I was able to compose another post, but couldn’t get on the internet as a CW guest or on my own personal Hot Spot. 

This morning, Wednesday,  After a quick breakfast of a ham and cheese omelet (made in a freezer bag, cooked in the microwave, I was up and out by 8:00 am.  I took a run over to San Marcus Outlet Mall to see if I can find a Corelle  mug to match my dishes,  I found out that they haven’t made them in 15 years.  The cups and mugs are all stoneware, even the one in the sets.  I wonder where I can find the original mugs.  I got a call from Colleen saying that she was ready, so after a quick stop for some fuel, I headed her way.  After picking her up, we headed over to pick up Susan.  She really looks good for all that she has gone through.  She and Colleen had not met before, but follow blogs,  We went to IHOP in City Base, where we had coffee and tea and shared our experiences.  From there we went back to Susan’s and Colleen met Susan’s kitties, Sunnie and Bowie.  We said our good byes and hopefully we can all get together again, but probably not until Susan and Bob get back from Australia.  (we forgot to pictures this time--- oh well!)  Colleen and I headed back to drop her off at her house to get her truck.  She would follow me back to CW to see “My Spot”. 

I was able to meet up with Bill to get some of the paperwork done.  Most of the work is done, just a few things left and then I will be able to get to my next Workamping spot.

It’s getting late so I will close for tonight.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel

Life Continues, and Camping World Experience

                                
       Family having breakfast and/or lunch after church when I went to Ft. Worth.
After Sandi and Charlie left, it was back to my “normal” schedule, doing nothing in particular, maybe a bit of shopping and rearranging things, trying to get more organized.  One evening later in the week, Terri, another Workamper, came over for a visit.  We polished off a bottle of Riesling and talked about art, what’s going on at the park, where I will be going to and my situation with the repairs to my 5ver. 
It has been 6 weeks since I was at Camping World to start the repairs.  I thought that the parts should only take two to three weeks to get there.  I am usually very patient and can understand that the Service advisor had to satisfy Uncle Sam with having to be gone to do his duty, and I appreciate that and his service.  He was gone for three weeks, however, that shouldn’t have anything to do with my repair work.  Every week or so I would call for the status on the parts.  You would think that there would have been some one to handle his workload, but I had spoken with several advisors and they all seemed to not know, but “ I’ll check on that and call you back” is what I would get.  I think that only one person called me back, but needed more information from the insurance company.  Now the insurance company had approved the work the first day but just needed pictures and the estimate in order to cut a check.  After five weeks and the frustration building, and I have the checks, I called CW one more time and was put on hold for twenty minutes and hung up.  This time I asked to speak with the Service Manager and got his voicemail that said he would call me by the end of the day.  Not wanting another day to go by, I called him back near the end of the day.  This time he answered and I explained what was going on and he agreed with me that someone should have followed through with Glenn’s work.  He asked if he could call me back in the morning so that he could find out what was going on.  Evidently he, Bill Heinrick, has come from New Hampshire and just took  over the New Braunsfel store three weeks ago,  I imagine that that has had something to do with what’s going on.  He called me in the morning to let me know that the parts were ordered that Thursday,    AMAZING!!      He didn’t know if the the order was processed then or Friday or even on Monday and would let me know first of the week.  I got a call from Bill to let me know that there was a BIG package from Heartland, but he needed to compare the parts list with the contents.  Two hours later he told me that they were all there.     Yea!!!     Something tells me that they had to have been ordered a while back.  But there is NO excuse for the run around that I was getting.  Anyway I am so glad that Bill has taken care of the situation personally.  Because he has done everything that he can to rectify the situation, I am also letting the them do the roof replacement too.  Soooooooo, I am sitting here in my comfortable home getting caught up on my blog hooked up to their power.  It is a good thing that it is cool so that I don’t need my A/C, as they have already put the new roof on, but it has to “cure” before they put all the stuff back on the roof and seal it.  This morning was dark and dreary and the forecast was for rain and thunderstorms.  When I left this morning they would be pulling it inside to do the work and bring it out and set it up so that I can stay in it again tonight. It is outside, but under a roof for some protection from the elements.   Everything should be done by the end of the week.  WOW, it’s amazing how much can be done in so short a time when you put your mind to it.  I expected the roof to take up to a week and a half, but, nope, Bill put two men on it, to get it done faster. The side panels were done while I was gone yesterday.  I can imagine what it must have looked like, with several people working on the sides and top at the same time. 
  
Yesterday while  the work was being done, I had arranged with Colleen of Traveling with Long Dogs to meet for lunch.  She also invited a couple of other solo women RVers,  We met at the Fork and Spoon in New Braunfels.  We had a delightful lunch.  Colleen does know some interesting people.  Birdie of The Egg and I by Birdie (aka Nancy) just got back from a trip to Alaska and Margareta is from Germany and has traveled all over the world and some of it on a freighter. 
The rest of the afternoon took me to Pet Smart to get Angel’s nails trimmed and ground. and another mission to locate a new coffeemaker, the new “The Scoop” by Hamilton Beach.  I don’t drink much coffee, but do enjoy some instead of tea all the time and didn’t want to get the kind that has the pods.  It seems to me to be too much of a waste.
While checking at Target, I also got a flu shot.  By this time it was time to go back to CW.  After writing yesterday’s blog I took Angel out for her walk and met another solo female Gate Guard.  She did it for 5 months and met her “significant other” while out in the oil fields and they were trading in their 5ver for a new or new to them (I’m not sure which) Infinity.  It’s the one that has the bedroom in the back and a lounge up the stairs.  we visited a while and I got to bed after 11:00 pm.  It was still a good night’s sleep, oh, so much better that the time in the rest area on Sunday night.
I seem to be getting a bit long winded, so I will continue in another post.
Enjoy your week and
Thanks for visiting
good night
Susan and Angel

Life Happens, Even When I Don’t Blog

I am writing this blog from the back lot of Camping World.  I am finally back to finish the repairs that were started the first week in September.  I guess that I will catch up on all the happening since my last post.

                           

                            The view from my door on a foggy morning.

It’s kind of weird, when a lot is going on, yet I just didn’t want to sit down and write about it.  After the weekend of Debra’s visit I decided on getting out to practice with my new camera.  Below are some pictures of Waco North Campground.  “My Spot” is just beyond that little building (the laundry  room) at the end of the little bridge.  There’s a creek under the bridge (finally with water since the rain that we had) with some pretty flowered ground cover on the bank and the playground on the other side of the creek.  on the other side of the bridge are a couple of the cabins for rent.

 

 

I was interrupted by some activity with some of the other Workampers, so had to check it out.  There was a really bad accident on IH35 right in front of the CG.  They used the Jaws of Life to extricate the driver of the truck and he had to be air lifted to the hospital.  The traffic was backed up for miles in both directions.  I just don’t understand why they don’t lower the speed limit with all the road construction.  It seems like every week or so there will be an accident.

   

On another day, one of the other Workampers was walking her dog, Spanky, and he wanted to play with Angel.  She wanted nothing to do with that so she climbed up on the table to get away.  Spanky is such a cutie and so lovable.

   

That next Sunday I went to church with my daughter in Ft. Worth and then we all ( the kids too)  went out for lunch at the “Rise and Shine” Café.  (at least I think that is the name of it)

 

and afterwards I was on a mission to find another charging cord for my IPhone 5 to leave in the truck.  (none to be had anywhere in the Ft. Worth area.)   In our wanderings we found a herd of buffalo and yes, that is a camel near those hay bales.

 

Since the next day the kids didn’t have school because of Columbus Day, Charlie came home with me.  (Thank you Christopher)  Sandi would drive down on Monday after work to pick him up.  Charlie and I finally found the cord at an AT&T store in Waco. 

I had Charlie dig out my crock pot for a pork roast.  It was real good.  For the liquid I used  apple cider and threw in an apple too.  When I took the picture, I was told that they couldn’t see the pork, so I had to take off all the vegies to find the pork.  (that’s why there are two pics)

 

For dessert, we had Pumpkin Brownies that Charlie made.in the microwave.  I, of course had to send most of them home with them.  I couldn’t have them tempting me.

                           

That’s Pippa (Sandi’s Mini Doxie)  trying to play with Angel.  This time she took refuge in her tent.  She just doesn’t like to play.

 

Well, that’s what happened the first week and there’s more, but that will have to wait for the next installment.

Thanks for visiting

Why don’t they leave me alone?

Susan and Angel