To The Boat

Today (Jan 15 2011 ) I start back to the boat. Will fly from Dallas to Houston, Houston to Dubai, Dubai to Bangkok. Then it is off to a hotel who knows where for one night, next morning will be a helochoper ride back to the boat and five fun filled weeks of 12 hour days of work. I read about other crews on other boats having time to see the sights of the places that they go, so far all I get to see is the airport and hotel. If lucky might have a little time to walk around the area around hotel.

I have not even left yet and already looking forward to getting home so I can drive the RV down the road and do as I want, when I want.

Will try and post on the blog if anything of interest happens.. Until then..

Okay made it to Houston after a 25 min delay . Seems that about the time we should have left it was noticed that the plane did not have enough fuel to make it to Dallas. Better a delay then a problem in the air I always say.

Flight from Dallas to Dubai was uneventful but long (14 plus hours in the air ). That would have been fine if I was able to sleep, but every time I tried a little girl siting two seats behind me would either cry or scream.. So ended up watching several movies to kill time, also ate every time food was offered... LOL....

Once in Dubai one of the first things noticed was a Mc Donald's so had to get a coke... Now waiting on flight to Bangkok... ( Jan. 16 2011)

will update later..

Now later ( Jan 18 2011 ) Made it into Bangkok yesterday at 0800 am, no problems with the flight. Lets see flight 1= 1 hr, FL2=14 hrs, FL3=6 hours for a total air time of 21 hours.

Once in Bangkok we were met after clearing customs and driven down to a hotel located in U-Tapao ( not sure of spelling ) arrived at hotel at 11:30am. Total travel time from home to hotel 37 hours.

Really like this hotel it is on the beach and within walking distance of a small town. After checking in I went and had lunch before it was close at noon. Had a lovely lunch of Chile chicken and white rice. Take my word for it it was great and nothing like what you would get in the States. Next I took a walk to town to get a few snacks to hold me over until morning because I knew I would crash before dinner time and wake up late hungry. Found a nice little family store at the first intersection of town. The place reminded me so much of Mexico with the way things were setup, love it. Picked out two bags of chips, two sodas, and one water cost 39 Thai dollars, about $1.50US. Lady did not speak English and I do not speak Thai, but we had not problems doing business, really enjoyed my visit. Then the walk back I looked around more and found that this city at least has other things in common with Mexico, like nice homes next door to empty fields or burnt out homes.

Back at the hotel I walked around and took photos of the beach area before calling it a day and going to my room. Cleaned up and tried to read, but as soon as I stopped moving I feel asleep and that was the end.

Now back on the boat after a 45 min ride and will be here until Feb 19-25, do not know the exact yet because of what could happen in the next 4 weeks.

So no fun or games for the next 4 to 6 weeks..

Winter in Texas

Today Jan. 9, 2011 and winter has arrived in Wills Point Texas. Started snowing around noon and it is to continue until late tonight maybe into tomorrow morning. I just might have to call off a Doctors appointment that is scheduled for 8am, will see how things look in the morning.

As long as I do not have to go out in the snow and drive or shovel, I love snow. It makes things look so pure and clean, even when you know it is not. Even our road looks nice with a cover of snow, do not think it will ride and better....

Took the dogs for a walk when I went to get pictures, both love to play in the white stuff, it is funny to watch them roll around in it then shake it off.

To think in a little over a week I will be back on the boat off the coast of Thailand. Today I get cold going outside, on the boat I can not even cool off... Prefere not to sweat anymore but, that is my job at least for now..

Found a few problems that need fixing

Well now that I have moved into the RV I filled the water tanks only to find out the pump does not work.. Pump sounds like it is working but no water pressure building up so nothing comes out. The connection for the city water has a major leak but at least I get water to come out at the sink. So will have to take this to a repair place and find out what is wrong and get it fixed.. So far that has been the only surprises I have had, everything else I knew when I brought her..

Have a new wheel cover for the spear, and put up my state map of states that I have been too in an RV..

Spencer went to the groomer and had his first ribbon put in..

Final stages of RV setup.

I guess I am about done moving into the RV, only a few odds and ends left to find room for and I am done. I have my television, computer setup and working along with the printer. Cooked a nice veggie and pork stew ( more of a soup really ) Been sleeping and spending much of my time in the RV to get used to it, use the house much the same as if it was a club house at a park.

Next project is to replace the shades and covers on the lights. Might upgrade the lights to LCD if I can find them..

Return trip

First trip with the RV went well, did find things I need to fix and or change. However all in all I was happy with the way things worked. If this was a movie we would have dark music at this point. The day I returned to the farm/house was interesting and very informative. I left the RV park at first light around 7:20am, went to a Denny's about 4 miles down the road and had breakfast, went and fueled up and hit the road for a 50 mile return trip. About 30 miles down the road I heard a loud bang and the whole rig started to shack. I guess my old truck driver came out of me because I knew I had just blown a rear tire. Took the RV out of cruse control, and slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road to take a look. ( put on 4 ways but found out thems is not working ... OUCH!!!!! ) Lost all thread on outer duly driver side rear. Could have been worse, at least it did not lose any air.. After checking the rest of the rig, I decided to drive to the closest exit with something at the exit that I could pull into for safety. Ended up going another 4 miles before I found what I was looking for and pulled off the interstate.

Now all is going to be a matter of calling AAA and have someone sent out to change the tire for me so I can get down the road. HA!!!!!!!! I have had AAA off and on for years, this is the first time I have ever called road side for anything guess what happened. Once I told them it was an RV ( even a small one like mine ) I was told I was not covered. I tried to explain that I had a spear and all I needed was someone to change it for me. The people at AAA did not want to listen, would not even call someone for me and let me pay.. I had to find someone on my own to get the job down. All I can say is I was glad I had not had a true breakdown someplace that my computer could not get a signal, then I would truly have been FUC**d....

As things turned out I found someone in less then 30 min, and the bad tire changed out at a cheap cost of $25.. Then I went to Wills Point Tire and replaced my bad tire for a new tire that is now my new spear...

Motto of this trip is AAA sucks BIG time, I will never renew again, and anyone that is reading this that has AAA I strongly suggest you call them and find out what you have for coverage....

Anyway now back at Ranch RV home.....

First Tioga RV trip

Today is the first road trip with the Tioga. Need to name her, just have not thought of anything good yet. Had breakfast and a cup or two of coffee in the RV, then went in the house to check on things before packing her up and hitting the road.

This first trip is more of a test run to see how and if everything is working and what I may be missing. Sad to say the weather is not on my side and it is overcast with showers. Spencer seems to have found his spot during the drive he spent it in my lap sound asleep :)

Stopped at a Wal Mart to pick up a few things and noticed a flat screen TV for $150.00 could not walk away it was the last one... Also picked up a cheap coffee maker for $8.00... Unfortunately I forgot coffee filters and coax cable.. Set up the coffee maker using paper towels for now, and watching DVD on the TV...

Took Spencer for a walk after all was set up and came across a very nice path set aside for the dog walk. Most of the photos on the page taken during the walk. Would have been a lot nicer if it had not started to rain about half way back. So now the RV smells like a small wet dog.. LOL...
With the rain and all I guess I will spend the night watching DVD's, reading, and playing on the internet... Tomorrow I will see what things look like before I commit to anything..



Day two of shakedown trip.

Did nothing but watch movies, read, play on computer and walk Spencer. Weather is more rain so nobody is about...

Spencer did try to make a friend, but he/she did not want anything to do with him...

Test out RV

Today is the day I test out the RV, going to spend the day in it and see if I have what I need. This means staying inside as if I am living in it. Will have my dinner and snacks, play on the computer and read, not to mention playing with Spencer... If all goes well will then spend the night and test out the bed to see if I can sleep in it without too much trouble.

Next thing will be to take it on the road to a park for a night or two as a true test of how comfortable I will be living in it.. It is now about 98% packed with all my gear so it is just a matter of how things work out and what I find I am missing. Hope the next update is from a park that I am camping at..

Christmas 2010

It is Christmas 2010 in Wills Point Texas. Things I am thankful for this year. First thing that comes to mind is my friends and Family, I may not be as close to my family as I could be but at least I still know someone is they if needed. Next I have to be thankful for still having a job, I may not be as happy with my job this year as I was a few years ago, but have to be thankful for having a job in this current employment. Next is my health I will be 57 in 2011 and I can still do a job that most folks over 40 could not. Not to mention most young folk would not want to do.. LOL....


The last but not least item I say thanks for is the animals in my life, it is great to be loved regardless of what I say or do.. I can be in a bad mood and know I will be forgiven...

Working on RV

Been working on moving things into the RV, and fixing up minor problems. So far this is what the place looks like. Will post a few photos every few days just to show what is going on... Also posting our Xmas photos what we have of them that is... LOL..

RV made it to the farm...

Well picked up the RV, but not before getting lost for an hour or so looking for the place. Been to the place three times already then today could not find the place today... Drove all over town until we lucked out and found the place.


Now we did the walk around of the unit to see if everything was working and how it worked. The man doing the instructions was not letting me skip anything, even when I told him I knew about it or did not care.. Then it was to the office to sign papers and turn over the rest of the money :(.....


It was now time to start the drive home, but first I need to get fuel only 1/4 tank. Lucky for me a gas station was just across the road so it was an easy drive... Unfortunately a problem was found with the gas tank, filled it to about 1/2 and then it started to leak like Niagara Falls. So back to the RV place to see what the heck was going on... Man could not find the leak at the shop, had to go back to the station with one of the men and pump in fuel to show the leak. So back to RV shop again and get a new hose for the fuel tank... Back to gas station for a third attempt at filling the tank... YES!!!!! it held....

Now on the road to get the RV back to the farm.... Rest of the trip went well with the exception of some trim coming off the RV never to be seen again.. LOL...

Stopped at Denny's for dinner and pulled into the farm around 7pm and done for the night..