The Adventure Begins

Kerrville - Buckhorn Lake RV Resort

May 4, 2019

Off on my trip to Utah!

So far it’s been very eventful. I loaded up over the past several day, so I just had a few things for Friday before I left. What I hadn’t counted on was that those “few things” meant a number of trips up and down the RV steps. This trip is going to be good for leg exercises.

Pulled out about 11:00 and headed west. Stopped for fuel a few miles from home. This look like it’s going to be a daily experience. Towing the Blue Beast I’m getting about 12.5 mpg. With 23 gallons usable that gives me a 250-275 mile range, which is just beyond my projected travel distance. And, since I don’t like to go below a half to a quarter of a tank, well, you get the picture.

That’s good, though, because I need to stop regularly to stretch and rest. That means a 200 mile day (my target) takes about four to four-and-a-half hours on the road. Good ole Dr. Pepper --10/2/4-- leave at 10, arrive at 2:00, be sitting under my awning greeting people at 4:00. Sounds like a perfect plan.

And, with RVing, you always expect the unexpected. Between Comfort and Kerrville I had a flat! I’ve had 10 coaches, traveled 100,000 miles or more, and this is my first flat. Coach-Net Emergency Roadside Assistance came through for me. Turns out my duals have rubber valve stems. Not good! A quick stop and the tire shop (A and A in Kerrville...I highly recommend them.) and I’ve now got good metal valve stems.

Weather was horrendous last night. Thunder, lightening and rain so heavy I couldn’t see across the drive.

And...my new Tire-Minder (which alerted me to the flat) has decided to stop working, so checking tire pressures will be a daily routine until I get a replacement.

Also, to top things off, the electronic light control panels in the coach have gone wonkey. Fortunately the master panel still works, but on the others you push a button and wonder what it’s going to turn on. Oh, well.

Are we having fun yet?

Reflections

I really had to pray yesterday. With all the "incidents" (none really major--mostly annoyances that go with RVing) am I really supposed to be doing this trip? Is somebody trying to stop me, in which case I press on, Or is Somebody giving me warnings, in which case I really need to reevaluate my plan.

I keep remembering the story of the man in the flood.

As the flood waters rose, the county gave him an evacuation notice, but he wasn’t worried. God would protect him. The waters rose and he climbed onto his roof, but he wasn’t worried. God would protect him. In a little while, as the water continued to rise, a boat came by and offered to take him to safety. He declined--he wasn’t worried. God would protect him. As the water rose more, a Coast Guard helicopter crew tried to get him to evacuate, but he wasn’t worried. God would protect him.

When he drowned he stood before God and said, “I trusted you and you let me down.” God replied, “I sent you an evacuation notice, a boat, and a helicopter. What more did your want?”

So, we’ll see. I really feel like I’m supposed to take this trip. Remember the sense of expectation? I think (not believe, but think) it will do two things. First, I hope to meet a lot of campground friends with whom to share about God. Second, I’m holding it very lightly, because it will let me know whether I’m capable of--or even want to take--the other long trips I have planned.

Till then…

Thanks for traveling with me.