Directions

I love my GPS! I have so much more confidence when I drive just having that little voice tell me which way to go even if I'm just going to a place I've been to many times, like my hair stylist! But relying on it completely without having any idea which direction we should be heading proved to be a bad mistake on our part. For some reason our GPS has a problem with Houston, Texas! It would continually blurt out names of streets that we couldn't find. Anyway, I have a dearly beloved Aunt who lives in Houston and we knew we couldn't go home without visiting her. We found a Sam's Club about 2 miles from her home and parked the RV and tow car there. We decided to walk since my bike had a flat tire and after all it was only 2 miles. We punched the address into our trusty GPS and headed out in the 86 degree high humidity midday heat. As we followed the instructions we found ourselves on roads with no sidewalks and lots of traffic. We huddled on the grass strips and miserably made our way completely at the mercy of our GPS. We sensed we were walking in a really round about way but had no idea which direction we were actually supposed to be going. After 45 minutes we finally reached our destination and stood before my Aunt sopping wet! She graciously invited us into her home anway where we enjoyed the coolness of the air conditioning and some cold water. We had a wonderful visit and she rewarded us with her famous chocolate cake AND she asked her kind neighbor to give us a ride back to Sam's Club! So next time we are in a similar situation I think we will do a little more research for ourselves before putting our complete trust in Miss Garmin!

B'Day B'ride

While the Honda is getting repaired in Del Rio (looks like 2 or 4 October now) we decided to press on with the RV and our original plan to visit Brownsville and S. Padre Island. We drove to the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi) on Sunday (appropriate) and then down to Brownsville on Monday. Tuesday (29th) was Joy's birthday so we celebrated by taking a 14 mile round-trip birthday bike ride in 90+ degree heat with 85% humidity (seemed like a good idea at the time). We started at the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and rode down a nice paved bike path 6-7 miles all the way into downtown Brownsville. (After viewing a movie about the battle in the Visitors Center we were going to walk to the actual battlefield site but the "Caution: Snakes" sign at the head of the path caused an immediate about face.)
Palo Alto is the site of the first battle of what became the Mexican War. The outcome of that war in 1846-47 is the United States doubled in size by adding Texas and what would become 6 other states (California, New Mexico, Arizona among them). It is call the "Forgotten War" because it comes so close to the Civil War it barely gets mentioned in most history books.
Fort Brown, around which the City of Brownsville grew up after the war, was where Ed's great great grandfather, Ezekiel Vincent Hatch, served as a private in the US Army in 1851-1852. While we did get a look back in history by visiting the Brownsville Museum, what is left of Fort Brown itself is subsumed by Texas Southernmost University and difficult to actually see/learn anything.
We missed a huge afternoon thunderstorm and made it back to our RV at Palo Alto Park before they sent out a search party. The Birthday excitement was not over, however. We had an eventful trip in the motorhome trying to find a place to have dinner to celebrate Joy's youth. More on that later...

The Mule Kicks Up A Fuss About Leavin'

Not ones to wear out our welcome we planned to mosey on out of this SW Texas 2 horse town along about sunup today. We said our goodbyes to our kinfolk last night, loaded the covered wagon (RV) and hitched up the mule (Honda) to follow along. Our plan was to head south to Padre Island via back country roads through historic cities like Laredo, driving along the Rio Grande River and checking out the sites along the way. We were looking forward to the change of scenery from cactus and sagebrush to sand, beaches and ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Ed was looking forward to making a visit to historic Fort Brown near which the city of Brownsville grewup. Ed's great great (X ?) grandfather Ezekiel Hatch was in the US Army and served for a year at Fort Brown with his brother Elijah (no kidding) in 1851-52. The big Texas-Mexico stuff happened in/around 1846 so Ed was hoping to find out more about what was going on at that time (early 1850's) and what the Hatch brothers military service would have been like. I say "was" because these best laid plans got blown up by a blow out (and a sovereign God!).
We were about 45 miles south of Del Rio and had just bumped along about 6 miles of highway road construction. A rutted, graveled, muddy road construction road. About a mile and a half after getting back on the good road a car passed us and motioned frantically for us to pull over pointing to the back of the motorhome. We can't see the Honda from the mirrors, but we have a camera on the back where we can see it as it follows along. We had not noticed any problems. We pulled over, put our flashers on, and an 18 wheeler which had been following us, pulled over too. We went back to the Honda to find the front wheels cocked at an odd angle, the passenger side tire shredded and the drivers side tire missing and about 1/3 of the wheel of the missing tire sheered off. The truck driver explained that he had seen the left front tire (the one missing) go flat and quickly run off the rim about 3/4 of a mile back. Without that tire the front wheel turned sharply to the right and we drug the car going about 55-60 mp for about 1/4 to 1/2 mile before the car could get our attention and we stopped. He said sparks were flying everywhere and we were lucky the car didn't catch on fire. We got in touch with USAA and ended up having the car towed back to Del Rio to get repaired. (That is a whole story in itself...) They should be able to get the parts to fix the car in the next day or so. We're probably looking at a 3-4 day delay total, but we just put it all in perspective: No one was hurt. It could have been worse. We get to spend more time with Kylan. We had a plan, but God had a different plan. We'll have to do Padre Island and Fort Brown another time.
In the meantime we'll just hitch up our wagon (RV) in this here corral (the base FAMCAMP) and set a spell. Don't be a stranger now, ya' hear!

HMMM. So what am I learning?

Interesting book I have been reading lately, "The Reason for God - Belief in an Age of Skepticism". Now I wouldn't say I'm a skeptic. I'm a believer and find my faith in God easy to have without a lot of doubts or questions. But one chapter I just finished was how could a good God allow suffering. Now I'm not saying I'm suffering. Although sitting in a parking lot in Del Rio, Texas might be suffering to some. But another way to pose that question is why do bad things happen to good people. Of course, that's assuming I'm good people!!! Do I believe that because I'm a "good" person or a "Christian" that only good things will happen to me? As Keller says in his book, "Just because I can't see or imagine a good reason why God might allow something to happen doesn't mean there isn't one". He goes on to say later, "Many people have to admit that most of what they really needed for success in life came to them through their most difficult and painful experiences". The other thing I have been learning through a study I am doing in Job is sometimes...really most of the time... IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!!! Maybe this trial I am going through is for somebody else to learn something and I'm just the vessel God is using because He knows I can handle it. I don't think Job ever knew that God had a conversation with Satan about him which led to his suffering. Did Job lose faith? Sure he struggled and questioned but his faith was firm. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD"! So as Ed and I sit here in Del Rio, Texas waiting to see how this whole car trial is going to work out I am not complaining or becoming frustrated because I know that God is sovereign and His ways are not my ways neither are His thoughts my thoughts and I can trust Him. Phew, what a relief that is. So how long will we be in Del Rio this time???? Stay tuned.

Happy Birthday Kylan!

CJ, Katie and Kylan were walking to their airplane after being with us in July for Ed's retirement. They were heading back to Alaska only to make a quick turn and move to Texas in late August for a pilot training class beginning 8 Sep. As they were walking to the security gate Kylan turned around and yelled to us, "Come see me in Texas for my birthday mamaw and papaw!" Who could say no to that? It was what motivated us to keep driving when we felt like stopping and we are so glad we made it in time. For us, it was our first granddaughter birthday party. For Kylan, it was her first big party with lots of kids.
Living in base housing is great because pretty much everyone is in the same/similar situation as you are so you tend to make friends quickly. Katie and CJ had been in their place a matter of days when they met the family behind them and discovered a rare life occurrence; a boy with the exact same birthday as Kylan. Caleb's Dad was just finishing up here and they had orders to move them to Tyndale AFB FL. It didn't take the two families long to realize going in together to have a combined party would be a great way to celebrate for both the birthday kids. They threw a big birthday bash complete with a bouncy house, pinata, all kinds of presents, food, cupcakes, and of course kids galore! It was a wild, loud, crazy time and both Kylan and Caleb had a blast. It was even more fun for us realizing NONE OF THESE KIDS WERE OURS!!!!!
Exhausted from the trip and the day we headed back to our RV-home happy for having finally had the experience of saying in person, "Happy Birthday Kylan Joy"!

Where in the world are you taking me?

If you have never been to Laughlin AFB or Del Rio, TX you don't know what you're missing! On day 4 of our trip we're still pressing to make sure we arrive Friday, 9/11/2009, for Kylan's big birthday party which was set for the 12th at noon. The rain slowed us some as did an excursion to Camping World, the "Wal Mart" of RV supply stores. We found one just outside of Houston TX and spent over an hour browsing and buying. We had to leave before we maxed out the credit card.
We hit San Antonio and left the Interstate (and the last vestiges of civilization!) about 3 pm. US highway 90 is a straight shot to Del Rio and due west of San Antonio. Once you leave SA, other than a couple watering holes, it gets more and more desolate and more and more like the SW desert that it is. They call it the "hill country" of Texas which I guess makes it sound less bleak but it really is more desert than anything. Cactus, purple sage, scrawny mesquite and pinion trees are everywhere. Armadillo and skunks are common views (i.e. roadkill). After about an hour out of San Antone we were imagining a question that must have been uttered a thousand times if once by the wives of future pilots making their own way beyond the edge of known civilization on their way to this airplane patch out in the middle of nowhere USA..."Honey, where in the world are you taking me?"
Just when you are about to think the GPS is wrong, there really is nothing out here...you come up over a small rise (hill?) and it's as if a military base just pops up out of nowhere...or out of a the desert...or maybe it's a mirage...and there it is, Laughlin AFB in all her glory. Named after a pilot from Del Rio who was killed in combat in the Pacific during World War II, Laughlin, though operational off and on in the 40's, has been training Air Force pilots continuously since 1952.
We found the FamCamp easily and our parking spot for the RV which would be our home for the 2 weeks or so. We were going to surprise Katie, Kylan and CJ with a slightly early arrival, but we had to announce our presence right away to get help with a jump-start for the Honda we tow behind the RV. So Katie and Kylan came down and we got hugs all around and a jump-start too. And in just in time for the big 4 year old birthday party!

Smooth Runnings

Third day out and we're thinking we have this down. The drive from South Montgomery AL to Beaumont TX was less eventful than previous days in a good way. The traffic was relatively light and no major cities to navigate through in the Big Rig. We executed our New Rules and came up with reasonable options for camping the night at the 500 mile range of the days drive. We had only stayed in "minimalist" RV campgrounds to this point and were wondering what something called a "Resort" RV park would be like other than the price. We sorted out the fact that most RV campgrounds have late arrival arrangements so this time we were not alarmed when we called and got no answer from the park we had targeted just outside Beaumont. We just showed up and sure enough they had several spots designated for late arrivers/no reservations and even an easy to use registration and payment system. It was a nice park and made us realize you do get what you pay for. We didn't take advantage of the pool, laundry, continental breakfast or recreation center, but the their large pull through hardstand sites were great and the whole place was very well laid out and easy for new-timer RVers. We had such a good day on the road and it was such a nice park that Joy was even inspired enough to cook dinner! Someday a Hatch family trivia question will be "what was the first meal you cooked in your first RV?". Answer: Taco's! And for a nice end to a good road-day since being from Oregon we actually love the rain) well after we had everything set up our belly's full and completed a settle your meal walk, it began to rain. A steady rainfall making rhythm on the roof lulled us into our night's repose. Nothing better than falling asleep to the sound of rain...even Texas rain.

New Rules

Rules have a way of helping us manage life and circumstances on our terms. They can lead to legalism, but they can also lead to a way to bring calm to a new potentially anxiety generating experience. Rules often emerge from difficult or painful experiences. Figure out the circumstances these rules came from...

New rules for the road:

• Decide before noon how far we will drive and (roughly) where we will stop
  
• Have several options of campgrounds figured out and call them by 3 pm
• If at all possible get parked and set up before dark!

Hard driving on day 2 led to more new and sometimes stressful moments. Having to make at least 500 miles a day to get to Del Rio by Saturday and Kylan's birthday party, we fell a little short of that getting to South Montgomery AL by quitting time (as determined by the New Rules). We hit Atlanta at a good time traffic-wise, but it is still stressful driving a Big Rig with a tow-vehicle through a major city.
In spite of the New Rules we had a little trouble getting a confirmed spot at an RV campground. We did stop while the sun was still shining, but we had some new setup challenges. The "pull through" spot at the campground was too short for our rig and tow car. Ed went to unhook the Honda and move it and the battery was dead.stopped (with the sun still shining). He got help from another camper who kindly gave a jump. Then levelers on the RV didn't work right and it took some time to get them to cooperate.
Someone once said that the problem with the idea that "experience is life's best teacher" is that life gives you the exam, before it teaches the lesson. Lot's of lessons being learned here!

First Night

Not New Years but a new phase of life for us. The current plan is (Lord willing and the house in Suffolk, VA sells sooner or later)...to take several months to make our Oregon journey. For the past 10 years or so of our Air Force career the dream has been to move back to our beloved Oregon. The RV idea emerged over the past year as we wanted flexibility in where we would live once we get back.
The first day out on our maiden voyage/shakedown cruise we got a late start, but still made it to Charlotte NC. It was a day of firsts beginning a week of firsts for our first big RV experience.

• First fill-up...sticker shock!
• First meal in the RV (sandwiches)
  
• First RV campground
• First disagreement (of the trip)
  
• First hookups

Rookie's that we are we thought getting a campground was like getting a hotel...you call, make a reservation and show up. Uncertain as to how far we would get we didn't start calling ahead to possible campgrounds till an hour or so before we wanted to stop. We made three calls and all ended on answering machines. Joy finally connected with someone at an RV park near Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC just north of Charlotte, just a few miles before we would have been past it. The whole episode caused some tension between us and what we realized would be many more opportunities to grow in patience with another as we embark on what is a whole new experience for both of us.

Loading for the Maiden Voyage

A rainy SE Viriginia day did not deter us from our appointed task: load up the Big Rig and hit the road for our first ever in-our-own-RV excursion. Granddaughter Kylan's one and only 4th birthday coming up on 13 Sep was the perfect excuse for a shakedown cruise. We launched into the great unknown about 3 pm, 7 Sep destination Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas...1695 miles From Suffolk, VA. Our retirement-transition RV maiden voyage and shakedown cruise.