Lake Texoma RV Campground, Gordonville, Texas

So, what happen in between here and Alexandria, La. or even Ruston, La. ? Well not much of anything, except for meandering to Albuquerque International Balloon Festival.

We spend labor Day weekend at Lake Tawakoni, just outside of Point, Tx. or better yet east of Dallas.

Press Here

High point of this Thousand Trails? Well I met 2 gentlemen, both with the first name of, are you ready? Dale, father and son, so where else can you get a triple set.

This is Dale, Dale's son was still sleeping when we left:

Pups and I got in many  miles of walking, even with the temps in the 90's. 

Low point, many sites closed off to accommodate the poor electrical infrastructure. All sites 30 amps, poor 30 amps most of the time, meaning ac voltage was less then 106 Vac.

But in the end, it was nice, people friendly, dog friendly, meaning, lots of open area for dakota to run, and in Texas, people would rather bring their dogs than children.

So, on Monday the 3rd, we packed up, and headed out to Lake Texoma for a 3 week or less stay.

Of course a few photo ops of what we see:

Then I finally completed a small project, I been putting off. Few months I had purchase 2, sets of daytime running lights. Well I finally got around to complete the installation. These are recessed lights, meaning I cut the fibreglass and installed:

So, Safe travels and journeys

DaGirls Aka Dakota and Tilly

Susan, dale 

Las Vegas New Mexico–25 days to AIBF

We landed at the Elks lodge, spent 2 nights, with full hookups, which all we used was electric. Spent time inside visiting elks, and having good conversation on the future of the Elks.

On Sunday, we spent some of the day, walking around downtown. The early morning is the best to get photos of the area with few people. We found a good coffee shop, just been open over 4 months. Took some good shops of the building and the sculpture in the plaza.

We then went to old town, and repeated the same. Including seeing the train station. Where twice a day a Amtrak stops by to pickup passengers.

As we walked around town, I was able to capture some unique shots:

We definitely will come back, as there are many places we have missed. 

Dale
DaGirls Travels
Aka Dakota & Tilly
Safe Travels and Journeys
http://dagirlsrv.blogspot.com/
You Tube Video - Roadrunner Song

Happy New Year and Passing of a Great Friend

So, here I am, in DaGirls Rv II, with Dakota and Tilly. 2017 has started out with a – not so great a bang. Well not really a small one. You see, one of my very good friend has passed away. 5 months from retirement. Andy Stramiello, who was only a year older then I am.

Andy was just one of those guys who never complained, especially when, we as men or women should. I will not go into great detail, but sad to say, it was like the movie “Perfect Storm”. Everything seem to work against him this pass week (Dec 23 – Dec 31). Andy’s condition deteriorated to the point that life for him would not be what he would have wanted. On Friday, family and friends gather and discuss what his life would be like. Elise may the ultimate decision, to suspend life support.

Services will be held this week, it is good that Susan is returning on Wednesday, in time for everything. 

On Saturday, many of us gather to rejoice in Andy’s life, marriage, children, and his career as a Aerospace Engineer. It was during the New year celebration, that the champagne was open to celebrate the New Year and Andy (9:00 MST) 12:00 EST that Andy passed on. He joined the many great golfers, family and friends in Heaven.

As I write this, I cannot remember the day we met. Somehow we ended up as a four-some and from that day on, we were enjoined. To play as many rounds as we could together, along with Jim. We were similar to the 3 Musketeers, we played together in the company tournaments. Went to Green Valley for the 2 days of golf and everywhere else. Even when there were no tournaments we would get together and play golf. 

While writing this, I started searching through my photos. I then realized that all the pictures, I had were on film. Due to issues, I loss most if not all of those photos. 

I cannot speak for the Family except to say, both Susan and I have face this same situation with the loss of a close one or friend. 

To all of you, who keep putting off retirement, stop what you are doing and think, Is this life really worth it ? All the while dreaming about retirement? Dreaming what you are going to do in retirement?

I cannot stress the importance, of this. Do whatever it takes to retire as soon as you can. Meaning even if selling your perfect home, down-sizing, eating hot-dogs and beans, to get out of debt.

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, if you don’t, then you may miss out on the Greatness adventure of your life. 

For Wayne and Kathy, they are looking for this year to be a great year. Better then 2016.

For Elise, 2017 will be the year, that she loss the greatness love of her life.

Susan and I, be the best friends and lovers to each other.

Renew friendship, but with the understanding that we are now traveling in different circles. Those same friends, will now understand that friendship is more important to us then canceling an engagement and seeing a movie instead.

Safe Travels and Journeys 
Dale

Merry Christmas - Safe and Happy Journeys

Merry Christmas - A very Safe and Happy Journey

From the Prichard's 
DaGirls II

Holidays and Happiness

Dec. 24th Christmas eve, and we are home waiting for the storm to pass here at Sunshine Acres Children home.

Susan is getting packed, as she is heading to Chicago to see Eric, Di, Dana, Mike and all the grandchildren. Scheduled to fly out Monday morning – on a red-eye.

Dakota, Tilly and I are staying where it is warm and cozy, not to say I would not want to see everyone, but Chicago ?? It’s cold there and I have gotten to the point I would rather drive the Rv instead of flying. So off she goes to spend time with the families.

I will continue to volunteer and stay busy while she is away.

So, maybe you were expecting maybe a Christmas  letter? From ME? I just blog about life and what is going on. Big and sad news a close friend, has been taken gravely ill and has been taken to the hospital and put into an induced coma. We understand he will be kept like that for a few weeks. Our hopes and prayers are very high priority for Andy.

So to all of our Friends – May you have a wonderful and beautiful Merry Christmas wherever you are.

Susan, Dakota, Tilly and me.

Happy Holidays from all of us to you.

Settling in Clermont Florida

What ! DaGirls is settling down in Clermont Florida?

Not really, we have just been chilling out visiting a very close friend. To hear how we met, not always staying in touch (me really). I consider Greg a very close friend. I will not bore you with the details, but it started back around 1994 – 1995 back in my old neighborhood Edward Dr in Tempe Arizona.

Anyway we know, everytime we come to Florida we are going to make time to stop and visit with him.

So, you ask, where are the photos, well tell you the truth, I did not get a good shot this time.

But Greg being Greg got us a all around pass for Universal Studios in Orlando. So we spent the day with Woody and Anna enjoying the Hogwarts  and the new Harry Potter theme park.

Photo Link

You know what? There just is NOT enough time in a day to see and do everything there. Greg, says we have to come back. Come back we will, but we would rather spend time with him.

Della always knows what to say.

"That's my story and I'm sicking to it"

“SeeYa, Safe and Happy Journeys”

"DaGirls Rv, Me, Della, Susan & Tilly"

Down Time witth Cousin’s

Where have we landed?

Back yard of Susan’s cousin. Woody and Anna. We pass this way back in 2013, when the weather was nice, not like it is now. Hot and humid. But hey, with 30 amps we can run both AC’s right?  Nope problems again, but this time it was on the power side. Turned out to be a loose connection at the 100 amp dual main. Aluminum wire to the circuit breaker. In the end, I am glad when I had to rework my 50 amp cable. I had to cut the female end off many years ago. I have kept that piece. So now I was able to use it, to rewire the small box for 50 amps instead of us connecting to 30 amps. All is well now.

But being  here brings back memories and friendships again. And allows us to perform minor repair and maintenance. Like Oil change, seems it was getting close so, nice place, 5 gallon bucket and a few minutes and DaGirls is done. So today I will do the generator. May as well do both. Will also pressure wash the engine. Finally remove the mud flap as we have not used it since we added the road guard to the jeep.

But on Sunday, YES, we were getting out the Air boat for a ride. After fixing the over-flow container, cleaning, running, adding new gas. WE LAUNCH and away we went. I knew my time would come to drive and let me tell you.

Dale, yells Woody, check the engine something is wrong. Yepper,

Yep, broken alternator belt

However I did manage to get a few photos before we HAD to return to shore.

Anyway DaGirls are happy to be back in their pack and enjoying the freedom to roam again.

Della always knows what to say.

"That's my story and I'm sicking to it"

“SeeYa, Safe and Happy Journeys”

"DaGirls Rv, Me, Della, Susan & Tilly"

4_24_On the Road tto Florida----Again

We left early Sunday morning around 7:30 from the CG just north of Alex and headed down 49 to I-10. Most of the morning, greeted us with road noise.

Somewhere around 10 am near the Tiger Truck stop, west of Baton Rouge, we decided to switch out. Susan had been driving since we left and it was now my turn. As we were entering the truck stop, she experienced problems with the air system. Low air light, warning buzzer came on and as she went to pull the parking brake we just stopped. Meaning we lost the air pressure to keep the parking brake disengaged.

With that we came to a slow stop. At that point we took Della and Tilly outside for a walk and relax for a minute or to and then came back to DaGirls Rv. So with that, is was my turn. Well not to drive, of course, but to figure out what was going on.

Ok, here is what I did and found:
Started engine, when the air pressure built up, air bags came up and seemed to be ok,, until I pressed on the brake pedal. I heard the brakes come on and a bigger whoosh sound. At that point it was time to get on work clothes and with Susan's help I crawled under the rig and found a fitting had broken off and air was escaping.

So, with hat in hand off I went in search in parts to repair DaGirls Rv.


Once repairs were completed, we went to our next lay-over. Where was that you may ask? A campground near Waveland, Ms.  We ended up with a free night thanks to the Silver Slipper Casino.

Area was great except for the goat heads that, Tilly always finds, white beach sand, breeze blowing and just a good place chill out.

All in all Della really liked it:

What more does a girl what:

While we were there we visited the John C Stennis Space Center.

Press Here for Link 

Of course, while we were visiting could not resist in photo ops:

Our next stop would be at the Elk’s lodge in For Walton Beach Fl. We mosey on Hwy 90, until we had to re-route up to I-10 so we could get thru Mobile, AL. Once across and thru we transferred to Hwy 98, the Emerald Coast Hwy or Gulf Breeze Pkwy.

Of course we weren’t without our little problems, I mean come-on we own an Alfa. Just what did you expect, trouble-free driving.

While we were on the road the generator stopped, as we were at a visitors center, good time to see what was going on. Water and alot of it was coming out of the Dash AC vent and housing. Seems like with the Dash blower on low, the coils froze up and then next thing you know coils were defrosting – good – but maybe bad as it was flowing down over the generator.

Now, just to let you know water does not get into my controls boards as I used a sealant prior to installing the panel. But, hey, what happened? Now the generator starts and then quits when you release the start switch. Ok, we open a few windows and the air vents to cool down and Susan says honey, we lost 2 of our Max-Air Vents. WHAT, where, how? is all I could say.

Oh well, so off we went to our destination – Elks Lodge in Ft Walton Beach. Arrived, setup, laid back, had a cold one, paid for 2 nights and went to bed. As tomorrow would come and I would worry about the generator next morning.
Ok, morning arrived, so I am out early, grab my trusty trouble-shooting doc (created with Dick’s help) which by the way is on my Google Drive, and get to work. Checked, verified wrote down findings, did everything I could think of and then ended up calling Dick and talking to him. You see, Dad and I would do the same thing, problem, call and and talk about it, none of this emailing back and forth. Usually we come to a solution and everything is working.

Ok, went over everything again, called back, at this time we both agree, neither one of us new what was going on. So, I said I was going to check and make sure no water got in.

First thing, removed he front panel, after looking on the left side. Can you guess what I saw? I called Dick and swore him to secrecy. You see, the main thing (my father is laughing at me from up above right now), was the generator belt split and came off.

Now you may wonder why I am writing this, I don’t know except to give everyone a good laugh. And I think this is a good one, me, dale, a really good person in working on DaGirls Rv, forgot the one basic thing. Check the simple things.

You see, in Jan, I changed out the water pump belt, checked the generator belt and all looked good. So why change it out. There was no need to do anything to it.

On the bright side, it gave me a chance to practice what I wrote up in the Trouble_Shooting_ Doc for the generator, and I will be making improvements down the road on it. You see it really is easy to trouble_Shoot the generator with just a little bit of knowledge and reading up on the operation of equipment.

Della always knows what to say.

"That's my story and I'm sicking to it"

“SeeYa, Safe and Happy Journeys”

"DaGirls Rv, Me, Della, Susan & Tilly"