New Braunfels to Junction to Fort Stockton, Texas: February 25th to 28th . . .

It’s Wednesday (2/26/14) and We’re Still at Camping World in New Braunfels, Texas!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the Google Maps instructions for getting to this, very visible Camping World just outside of San Antonio, are convoluted to say the least.  So, after I received my job for the evening and morning of trying out all my systems while here in the ‘free’ campsite, I decided to just stay here in the parking lot and not venture out for exploration of the area.  Maybe I’ll do a little today; or, maybe I’ll just head out towards Junction, TX or further.

Of course, the wind came up last evening and the temperature dropped down into the 30s again.  It’s been howling around the rig all night and doesn’t appear to be letting up.  This morning it’s currently 41F and very windy.  It’s supposed to be windy all day in the range of NNE 15-29mph with up to a 70% chance of rain, especially later this morning.  Wouldn’t you know?  My ‘issues’ with Floribunda seem to be resolved as far as I can tell now, but the dreaded wind and rain may make traveling a little less enjoyable. 

By the way, I’ve had a windshield washing fluid container with a big hole in it since December.  Yesterday, CW told me I’d have to try to find one at Chevrolet, as CW doesn’t carry replacements for chassis parts.

That’s great – I already checked with a Chevy dealer in Louisiana who told me he doesn’t have that part in his catalogue.  I’m assuming that either means his catalogue is wimpy or I’m not going to find it at any Chevy dealer.  The alternatives are:  to go without (not pleasant for driving when in rain and fog, then dust and wind, etc.), or, buy a generic container and try to get it to fit – somehow!

It just seems that things are not meant to be simple in the maintenance and repair of motorhomes!  Maybe the powers that be only hand out so many conveniences and easy solutions; so, when one’s used up his fair share of easy fixes, things get complicated!  For some reason, I kind of feel I’ve overdone my fair share of complicated solutions! Hmmm!

Yesterday, when I was ready to leave Seguin, TX, for the relatively short jaunt to New Braunfels, I decided to try to tow Petunia without the bungee cords holding the steering wheel in a neutral position.  [After all the problems I had last summer with towing, I’d decided I’d rather be safe than sorry.  In the Smart Car forum, there were lots of opinions about whether to use steering wheel bungees or not.  I’d decided to use them but haven’t really seen that they actually “do” anything; so this was the first time I was brave enough to give the non-bungee steering wheel a try].  Almost immediately after I left CW, I pulled into a gas station to fill Floribunda with gas; and, I had to make a rather sharp right turn to exit the station.  OMG!  The horrific Petunia clunk-clunk sound was back!  I could see on the monitor of my backup camera that the steering wheel was wildly going to the left and then to the right, over and over.  I could feel that panic brick falling to the bottom of my stomach.  Fortunately, I was able to turn off the main road in just about 200 feet onto a residential street and pulled to a stop as soon as I could; where I jumped out, ran back to Petunia, and went through the algorithm that I would normally do when I prepare her to be unhitched.  It went well so I then put her back into towing mode, with the steering wheel bungees back in place, and all seemed to be working okay.  However, when I did unhitch her in the afternoon, here at CW, I noticed that hot/burnt rubber smell; so I’m going to be very careful and watch for any signs of a problem with the clutch or transmission, or whatever else could be damaged from the spinning out of control steering wheel around that one corner.

A Smart Car in the sales room - check Petunia out, below

Thursday Evening (2/27/14), Fort Stockton, TX – Hilltop RV Park

After leaving CW at about noon yesterday, we drove about 150 miles to Junction, TX where we stayed at River Shade RV Park on the North Llano River.  The drive had been an easy one and we had no more heart-stopping moments with Petunia.

The RV Park was spotlessly clean and had manicured grounds.  The only issue was that my Verizon Jet Pak, my iPhone, my iPad, and my laptop were all unusable.  It was probably just as well because after a nice dinner, I turned the light out at 7:30 and didn’t check the time again until this morning at 6:30!  That tells me that, although I feel 99% better than even earlier this week, I’m still feeling some effects of this darn flu.  I’ve just never had anything like this before.

We drove out of River Shade RV Park at 11 and, taking our sweet time, traveled through some of the widest-opened spaces in the World.  Texas is one BIG PLACE.  At one of the rest stops I checked on an RV park in Fort Stockton (Hilltop RV Park); and, it’s a good thing I did because they only had one spot vacant for tonight.

I-10W parking spot - Texas freeways have rest areas, picnic areas,
and parking spots.  They're few and far between

Not too many of us out here!

Texas seems to go on forever

Between Junction and Fort Stockton, TX

Between Junction and Fort Stockton, TX - such interesting
rock striations - I love the continual sameness and changing
of the landscape

We arrived at Hilltop RV Park outside of Fort Stockton at about 4 in the afternoon.  I left Petunia hitched to Floribunda.  They both needed a 'rest!'  These long stretches of 'clean-appearing' highways hide lots of dirt - see below!

Poor little Petunia, a little the worse for wear this morning
(Friday, 2/28/14).  She was quite clean two
days ago.

Oh my, oh my, it's dirty work being towed

It's dirty work towing, too!  Floribunda needs a bath SOON!

Our plan is to leave here later this morning, and drive to Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory.  Then, we'll make the hop to Marfa, Texas.  I’ve made a reservation at the Tumble In RV Park in Marfa for 2 nights.  We’ve heard lots of good things about this special place – in the middle of west Texas desert country.  Hopefully I’ll have some good photos and stories to tell.

Eleanor this morning,  "I've had breakfast and life is good!"