We had a spectacular blowout in Shreveport La.
Left rear Goodrich T/A severly damaged the fender of the truck, and completely wiped out the wheel well.
So a slight diversion,,,
We camped at a nearby campground, planned our next move into Longview Texas in the morning to deal with tire issues.
I usually do the laundry, but this time Alice wanted too while I too the kids swimming.
A stalker entered the laundry room, stared at her and stood there crazy, so of course she left then he followed her back to our RV.
She told me.
So,,
When I made an appearance, he took off.
I was good with pugil sticks in the Marines, and carry one long.
I wanted to simonize the stalker with one, but he left us alone for the nite.
We left the campground early, and headed straight to Longview, Texas.
Pulling into Texas, our first stop was Discount tire, where my tire warranty is good, and their is a good chance they have the replacement tire in stock.
We cross the border from Lousiana, and ya know you're in Texas, ya see Tamale signs all over the place.
The attitude changes from "Maybe Manana," to; "yes sir, you're next".
That dark shadow of crime everywhere lingering overhead that started in Biloxi seems to have blown away too.
The tire store was teriffic. We got a new $300 tire under warranty, and I replaced the rest.
Though they still had 3/4"+ of tread left, I changed them out for the newer version, even more heavyduty " E " rated tires.
They also filled out a damage claim form & sent to to Goodrich to get re-imbursed for the damage to the truck, and the one lame RV tire was fixed free too.
This put us 20 hours behind on our trip detouring to a local campground, but hit us at a "free agent time" so we didn't miss much.
I wanted to see Dealy Plaza and the "6th floor museum" in Dallas but had to trade that time for tires.
While they were installing the tires, we walked about that neighborhood in Longview a bit.
Closed, that is shut down and outta business were the Krystals, Dennys Diner, and the Wendys.
We can understand why, questionable quality, always seem to be dirty stores too.
Amazing, I remember traveling nearly the same route as a kid, and we ate at good family owned restaurants. Hard to find these days, most replaced by chains offering fare nowhere near the good taste and character of a family run food Biz.
We finally ate breakfast at the Waffle House across the street from the tire store.
Ya see Waffle Houses all over the south,, way too numberous to count.
Not exaggering, maybe one at every major off ramp.
They are painted a sad mustard yellow and skuffed up black, like tire stores in Mexico, so they don't look appealing for food.
The sorry colors make customers leave when they're done eating, freeing room for new customers is the theory behind that we're told.
The food was pretty good, and very low cost. The service was that sweet Texas style from girls that were ladies. They talk in an accent and slow style, kinda like they're gonna fall asleep standing while speaking to you, but still smiling.
I'm a soft touch for Old Ford dealers.
Ya know, the kind housed in an old style wood sided building, with glass pane windows, a buffed wooden floor, the small blue neon sign with the old style blue Ford logo out front.
We got to see a few this trip.
The best example is Ojai Calif Ford.
A classic old Ford Dealer Building.
Still a few around.
Ya go in, the salesman is classic old school with a shirt and tie.
Knows everything about everything about Ford cars and trucks.
Doesn't have to flag down another employee that will then again chase down another employee to ask about some feature.
Back at the tire dealer we bump into yet another new Dodge truck owner.
They seem to always want to tell Ford and GM truck owners "ya bought the wrong truck."
I always answer "How do you like shifting that stick shift while towing 14.000 lbs ?". That blindsides them. Dodge auto trans are a matter of endless dispute, and the buyers know it, so they often op'd for the stickshift to avoid the issue.
That usually bring them back down to earth, and some miserable caught in traffic, or the wife hates shifting towing a load,, story follows.
Bless their hearts, they love what they decided to buy and want the whole world to know.
Nothing but automatic tranny trucks for this family.
We get asked so much what we're doing so far from home? We again reply "Seeing the USA in our Chevrolet."
'Gee, I want a job that would allow me to so that" is the come back. 'waddya do?"
"I retired early" is my response.
West Texas opens up and starts looking like the Southwest around West Abilene.
In Sweetwater Texas ya then really get the Sonora Desert character of the landscape.
Chapperells, Mesas, rolling landscape.
The roads are all under renovation. An off or on ramp is simply a dropped truckload of asphalt, then run over with a sheepsfoot.
Really hairy entering and exiting the highways.
Heading Northwest to New Mexico, the Texas farms and homes look so storybook perfect.
Stone farm homes surrounded by shade trees look so comfortable and happy and warm.
Gas stations about a tankfull apart, so good we have a few 5 gallon containers along.
So now we are camped in Carlsbad New Mexico. Pouring rain.
We'll be dropping down into the Caverns at 2 PM. Then the flying hamster (bats) show at dusk.
Then, a once a year, Bat breakfast tomorrow.
Entirely different from the silent 600.000 bats quietly exiting the cave in one big silent ribbon.
They return screaming, diving bombing each other,, quite a show, and only once a year they do the breakfast.
Then, the final pull into Parker Az after the kids take a flight over the Grand Canyon.
It'll be good to be back in Parker. Got a whole summer ahead of us in Parker.
