Short Stop-Over In Dallas

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Jim Melvin

I started out from Tyler, TX and made it as far as McKinney, TX where the old rig slowed down and refused to go any further. Fortunately I was in a Walmart parking lot and not at the side of the road somewhere off the beaten path. I have been having problems with my rig as it keeps acting like it was running out of gas. I had the fuel filter replaced, then the fuel pump and it would run fine for a while and then poop out.

I called Coach-Net and asked them to tow it to the nearest Ford dealer. There is one located about 2 miles down the road but they told me that they would not be able to work on it right away and had me towed to Dallas about 33 miles away. The tow company had to get my rig there by 6:00 and we had not left McKinney until after 5:00. So I am riding in the tow truck pulling my rig, sailing down the road about 70 mph. I don’t even drive that fast myself. What an experience!!!!!

I dropped it off at the dealer but had to find a motel as I could not sleep in their lot. Even if I could it was way too hot (103) so the dealer dropped me off at a Motel 6 where I spent 2 glorious nights.

I called the dealer early the next morning to check in on the fate of my rig. Seems that it was a fuel problem and it was due to a defective intake fuel pump that is located within the fuel tank. Since my rig is a 1991, Ford no longer manufactured the part. The mechanic said they were checking around and they thought they had located someone who had the part. No such luck!! They called me the next day to inform me that the part they were sent does not fit the tanks of RVs. They suggested I go online and try to locate it. I found one and was having it shipped out next day delivery. However, since it was Friday noon the part would actually ship on Monday and they would receive it on Tuesday.

I was in the Motel 6 from Wednesday through Friday. I didn’t really want to venture very far hoping that the repairs would be accomplished quickly and I could move on down the road. By that time I really had cabin fever bad. It is funny that the room I was staying in at the Motel 6 was larger than my rig but the walls seemed like they were closing in on my. I really appreciate my rig even more now. I haven’t really experienced cabin fever even though I have been cooped up in my rig for the last 6 weeks due to the 100+ temperatures and high humidity.

My son and his wife live in Fort Worth so I called him and he saved me from another night at the Motel 6. HOORAY!!!!! Thanks Curt and Jackie for saving my sanity. I will be staying with them until my rig is repaired and ready to go. I am hoping that I will be back on the road either Tuesday or Wednesday and head over to the Lake Arrowhead State Park at Wichita Falls, TX. I will be so happy that I am final getting this lingering problem fixed and not have it to worry about.

Ready To Hit The Road!

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Jim Melvin

I have been camp hosting here in Tyler, TX since 7/8/2011. Since I got here it has been like camping in the Mohave Desert. There has been only one day since I got here that the temperature has been below 100 degrees and that day it hit 98. Another interesting fact was that for 22 days the temperature was over 105. Seems like Arizona only with humidity which makes it even worse.

I am planning on heading Northwest where I will stay at Lake Arrowhead State Park for a few days and then on to Palo Dura State Park for another few days. Both these destinations are in Texas and both are still predicted to be quite hot. From there I am headed into the mountains of northern New Mexico where I am hoping temperatures will cool off.

There has not been too much to blog about during my time here. I start my day by working for a couple of hours early in the morning before it gets too hot. Then it is inside for the remainder of the day. I have taken a lot of time re-organizing my rig. I have gone through every cabinet including outside storage. Anything I didn’t use for the last year is going to the Good Will. I gave away some CD’s to some of the people in the park and am getting rid of many of the books I have read. It is so nice to have a Kindle where all my books are stored. Right now I am finishing up on my outside storage, which should be completed before I depart.

I am looking forward to getting back on the road. I have HITCH ITCH something fierce and can’t wait. Also looking forward to more frequent blogs showing pics of the beautiful places I visit. Thanks everyone for being so patient during this time.

42 Days with no relief in site!

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Jim Melvin

I have been workamping in Tyler, TX for 30 days now and every day has been over 100 degrees. They have forecast it to be HOT, HOTTER, and HOTTEST!!! But aside from heat, life is good. My day consists of getting up early and work for 1-2 hours starting at 7:30am. My work day usually ends at 10:30am. Then it is back to my rig for the remainder of the day. I am in charge of mowing all the lawn and it takes me about 5 days to complete it. I do have a riding lawnmower so it isn’t too strenuous.

Fortunately if I keep the blinds in my rig closed all day it will help with the heat. That and the fact my A/C is running 24/7 set at 74 degrees. In fact it is quite comfortable inside.

You are probably wondering what I have been doing with all that excess time. Well to begin with I am organizing the interior of my rig. I am going through every cabinet and getting rid of those items I haven’t even looked at for the past year that I have been on the road. If I haven’t used it by now chances are I won’t ever be using it and it either goes to the junk or the Goodwill or to others who might have a need for it. I have also purchased a bunch of plastic shoe boxes from Walmart to keep my stuff organized. My label maker has been working overtime. Now if I need something I usually can find it without digging through a bunch of junk. I am also surprised by the amount of extra room I have freed up in my cabinets. I still have more to do but I should be finished with all the organizing by the time I leave here. I also have cable TV and can watch some of my favorite shows as well.

By the way, I am leaving here on 8/24 and heading north east to Lake Arrowhead State Park for a few days and finally to Palo Dura State Park. After that I will be in the mountains of New Mexico for a while. It should be a lot cooler there. Hooray!!!

I apologize for not writing anything in my blog for some time but there hasn’t really been too much to say. I promise I will be posting on a more regular basis from now on. I have gotten several emails from friends wondering whether I have shriveled up in this heat. It is pretty unbearable but I just don’t go outside much and only when I have to.