We fell in love....

Sulphur,  LA

While here at A+ RV Park we noticed three fifth wheels that we REALLY liked from the outside.  We never heard of Redwood RVs but saw they were all bought in a town in Louisiana.  I checked it out and found the town was about 90 miles away.  So having nothing to do yesterday we took a ride for a look/see.

Yea, we fell in LOVE with Redwood Fifth wheels.   Redwood is a division of  Thor Industries out of Indiana and have been making these RVs only since 2010.  What beauties inside and out.

The model we liked best was the 36FB.    The living area:

The kitchen:

Double door fridges with even an ice maker.  Heaven!   Lots of storage all around.   Just look at this.  In one closet there is an electrical outlet for coffee pots, toaster, etc.

The bedroom:

One closet is cedar lined.   In addition there is another large closet in the room and a dresser with four large drawers and overhead cabinets over the dresser.  LOTS OF STORAGE.   In addition a closet for washer/dryer.   The walk in closet.  In the plastic are two additional dining chairs.   They fold down for when not in use.

The shower is huge:

This rig has so many upgrades.  Dual pane windows which we really wish we had.  Larger TV in living area. A full Hide-a-Bed sofa instead on the airbag mattress we now have in a much shorter sofa.  Larger fresh water capacity.  TWO awnings.  Water filtration system.   No ugly day/night shades.  Keyless entry.  Automatic leveling system.  Quick recovery water heater system.   The list goes on and on.  Truly a magnificent rig.

Len liked this floor plan - I didn't it.  A front living area.

So, bottom line - NO we are not trading up.   They made us an offer.   OUCH!  With our trade in of the Montana it would be almost $50,000.   The Montana is paid for and comfortable enough.   But we can dream, can't we?    BTW, buying some lottery tickets today.

Caught in the rain in Shangri La

Sulphur,  LA

Last night it stormed.  We had thunder, lightening, heavy rain and hail.   Was afraid there might be damage but luckily was none.   By mid morning it looked like the rains had moved out so we decided to do some touring.

About 22 miles away in Orange, TX is Shangri La Gardens.

 These gardens were started in the 1930's by a Mr. Stark and family who owned the property.  He started opening the gardens to the public in the 1950's.

Admission for general public is only $6.00/ $5.00 for seniors.

There are a two hot houses, a gift shop, an indoor exhibit of the history of the garden, a learning center and a small cafe.    It takes at least an hour to leisurely walk the paths.

I found this flower most beautiful:

There is a large natural pond home to a variety of nesting birds.

And another man-made pond called Blue Moon Pond.

One of the walking paths:

One of several sculptures:

View of a hot house.  We saw turtles and a too large snake in this area.    (Len believes ANY snake is too large.)

We were there only about an hour when thunder burst and the skies opened up again.   They gave us ponchos at the gift shop.   Doesn't Leonard look spiffy?

The rain came down in torrents flooding the walkways and parking lot.

We even got alerts on both our phones warning of flash flooding in the area.    It was about 1/4 mile to the parking lot.  By the time we got there we were soaked from the knees down.   My jeans could have been wrung out and my tennis shoes did nothing to keep my feet dry.   Too bad, we would have loved to have stayed longer.   Maybe another day.

In a better place

Sulphur,  LA

FINALLY - after two a  half months we have moved.   We asked to be relived of our gate guards duties effective Monday, May 6.  Our contact asked if we would mind leaving on May 5 instead as our replacements were paid at their campground only until that day.  No problem.

As they were 4 hours away we figured they would leave around 9 so would arrive no later than 1 pm.  When it got to be 1:30 Leonard called them.  They said they had things to do in the morning so had just left. OUCH!   We were not happy.  We so wanted to leave early in the afternoon because we, too, had a 4 hour drive ahead of us.

Around 3:30 we decided to hook up and get moved around so to allow them to pull right into the site.  Shucks, a problem.    The landing gear would not retract.  Len tried and tried using the electrical system.   Finally he had to raise the gear and then set the Kingpin manually.   No easy task.

At last our replacement arrived at 4:45.  After relaying information we got on the road a few short minutes later.

We arrived at A+ RV Park at 8:45 and partially set up in the dark.  Electric and water only, the rest could wait til morning.    We have stayed at this park in the past.   It is clean with adequate sites and each with a grill and table on concrete slabs.   There is even a catch and release pond.

This park is usually almost filled to capacity.  Therefore, there is an expansion in process.

One of the first things done on Monday was to get the truck washed.  Sitting 11 weeks 8 feet from a dusty driveway took it's toll.

Before the wash:

And after:

Later that day we visited with Len's brother Royce and wife Susie.  Plans were made to meet for dinner tonight.

Yesterday Len worked on the landing gear issue.   He was not able to get the gear to work with the switches but it does work with the remote.  More work to be done.  Later we visited our good friends Diana and Teaux.  

So here we are until the last week of the month.  Not sure which day we leave.   Not worried about it.

They are gone and so are we (almost)

Huntsville,   TX

The family living on one of our slide rails have flown the nest.  

We requested replacements here for our gate guard assignment.  We want back on the road.  We asked that Monday be our last day.  Yesterday we got a call from the area supervisor asking if we would leave on Sunday instead.  Our replacements are paid up at their current campground until Saturday night and would like to take over on Sunday.   Good with us!

So today we will do a few pick-ups and arranging.   This rig needs a good cleaning inside and out.  The out will have to wait.  But since there is very little traffic on the dusty driveway now, we will get started on the inside.

Len is cleaning the inside of the truck now.   The outside is really dirty.  Once we get to our destination that will be handled too.

So tomorrow when our replacements arrive we will take off for the short 160 mile ride to Sulphur, LA where we will be staying on A+ Campground until May 28.   We've stayed at the campground before and have been impressed with it.

I tend to be on the thrifty (cheap) side.   As much as I want to get on the road again, I get a pit in my stomach thinking about spending money again.  Money on campgrounds, diesel, an occasional dinner or lunch out, etc.etc.   These are things we did not do while sitting idle and actually MAKING money instead of spending it.   But somehow I think I will adjust!  Oh yea.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

How to get rid of a family?

Huntsville,  TX


As it really appears all work is about done at this well site, we hope to get the word soon that we are no longer needed.

But wait!  We have a problem.

Yup, this family has built a home and moved in on one of our slide rails.   What to do!  What to do!

Do they look old enough they will be leaving the nest soon?   If not, then what.

This is proof positive that we really have been sitting in one place too long!

So ready for a view change

Huntsville, TX

We are in our 10th week of Gate Guarding here in Huntsville.    We have seen the drilling crew leave, next came the fracturing crew last week.  This week it is the work-over crew.  They are in the process of leaving today.   What is next?  The oil starts to flow into the tanks.   What happens to us?  We don't know but hoping within days we will no longer be needed.

Oh, for a different view than

Equipment in and out:

The cemetery across the road

The woods outside our door (although we have seen it change from bare trees to leafy green)

Our only visitors have been three crows who like our birdseed and leftovers:

A few birds such as this which I think is a Titmouse  (Judy?)

Mr and Mrs Cardinal

And young squirrels who REALLY like the birdseed:

We are getting increasingly frustrated with the medical community here.  Not the care but the competence of the financial and clerical personnel.   Both at the hospital and clinic.   But that's a topic for a future blog.

Still here working

Huntsville,  TX

Yep, we are still here at the gate.   Two months as of yesterday.  We were thinking we would be done last week.  Not so.   Last weekend things were slow as they were between phases.

As there was no traffic between around 6 pm until 5 am so we actually got to both sleep at the same time!  We felt almost completely alone out here.

This week a whole different thing.   It started Monday and hasn't stopped since.   All day, all night.

Trucks in, trucks out.  Equipment in, equipment out.  Workers in, workers out.   Well I guess that's what they pay for us.

 Now we are told two more weeks. Perfect!  We wanted to be done by first week of May.

As for Leonard.  His gout flare up is about gone and he has very little pain.   But his counts on the blood thinners for the clot need to be under better control.    Blood too thin, blood too thick.  Each Monday he goes for blood work, the doctor then reviews and makes adjustments on the dosage.   We do hope it gets leveled before we leave the area as we will need to find a lab and doctor on our journey north.

Thanks for stopping by!