Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
4/28/2016 Thursday
Welcome to another travel journal with a new set of travelers. Let me introduce the cast of characters
for this epic journey.
First, there is me, Jim, AKA “Dad” or “Bro”; author, driver, camp cook, tour guide, dog poop retriever
and general flunky.
Next, Chester, the bi-polar dog. A mixed breed rescue dog, part Shepard, part train wreck. For those of
you who are familiar with the movie “Madagascar”, Chester is the canine version of Melman, the giraffe.
Fearful of nature, unexpected noises, movements, shadows and, especially, rabid butterflies.
And then there is the reason for this adventure:
Doug McClain, AKA “Uncle Doug”, miracle man, defier of medical prognostications that he had 6 weeks
to live over 6 months ago. He suffers from a medical condition that has him tethered to an oxygen
source for support of his impaired lungs. Fortunately, he is a tough old bird who doesn’t give up easily
and is an inspiration to all of us. Recovering his strength and ability to function within reasonable norms
is a tribute to both him and his main supporter, his wife, Sue.
Sue McClain, AKA “Aunt Sue”, “Sis”, is the angel providing the daily support to make Doug’s life as
normal as possible and always optimistic. She is what lends dignity to what would otherwise be a rowdy
road trip.
Last, the means of making this trip: The BAM (Big Ass Motorhome) and the Dog House (a 25 foot travel
trailer). The plan is for Doug and Sue to sleep in the BAM and Chester and I will sleep in the Dog House.
That gives everyone some degree of privacy and insures Doug’s oxygen generator will always have
power. The BAM has 120 VAC power from several sources. Shore power when plugged in; inverter
when running on batteries, onboard generator when running; and the engine generator when the main
engine is running. With four sources for AC, we should never be without AC power. The Dog House has
120 VAC when plugged in to shore power, only.
Today is the longest leg of the trip, 266 miles to Around the Pond RV Campground in Gainesboro, TN. It
was drizzling rain this morning while I made the final loading and hook up arrangements. Getting the
last items loaded and not forgetting anything is a challenge and I always forget something. Just hope it
isn’t something important. Fortunenately, the rain stopped by the time I was ready to roll out.
Chester climbed in the BAM with only a little encouragement to begin a trip that will takes us several
thousand miles over about 6 weeks. He hasn’t a clue what he is in for. For that matter, neither do I.
We cleared the Funny Farm driveway at about 10:30 AM under overcast skys but no rain. Chester
assumed his position for travel between the driver’s seat and the wall and stayed there until our first
stop at a rest area beyond Martinsville, VA. Both of us needed a biological maintenance break and a
stretch of the legs. 20 minutes later we were rolling along under clear skies.
We finally arrived at the Around the Pond RV Campground around 3:00 PM. Very nice campground with
pull thru sites that easily accomodated the BAM and Dog House. I pulled in, put the leveling blocks
under the wheels of the Dog House, pulled forward a few inches and the trailer was level. No problem
at all.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
There are plenty of Ginny Hens, geese and swans here. The lake is about 3 acres and well manicured
grass all around it. Chester didn’t pay much attention to the assortment of feathered creatures that
roamed freely about the campground. His main concern was sniffing everything in sight. I allowed him
an hour of walking around the lake and campground before calling it quits. He surely had accumulated
enough nasal imagery to last him for awhile and I was hungry.
There was a pizza place across the road from the campground, so I walked over there for supper. Had a
salad from the salad bar while they fixed 2 medium super deluxe pizzas to go for me.
Chester was right there at the door when I came in with the piping hot pizza. Needless to say, he got his
share of pizza that night.
It was a good start to the trip. As I mentioned earlier, I know I forgot something and as I considered
what to have for supper instead of pizza, it became evident I forgot to get the lobster, scallops and steak
out of the freezer at home. Oh well, at least there will be good eating when I get home. I plan to stop at
a Sam’s Club along the way and resupply those essentials.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
4/29/2016 Friday
Travel to Salt Lick Creek State Park is the agenda for today. Only a little over 200 miles and the worst of
the mountainous roads are behind us in Virginia. BAM didn’t like the hill climbing and complained by
running the engine temperature up to the alarm level before I noticed. I shifted down to a few lower
gears so the engine RPMs went up to around 2700 and that solved the heating problem. Have to
remember to watch that and also to check the coolant level to be sure it is full before hitting the really
fun mountain roads out west.
The trip was uneventful and we arrived at the Salt Lick Creek State Park around 1:00 PM. Due to the
change in time zones we shaved an hour off our travel time. The rangers at the check-in station were
very nice. They asked about the Dog House and when I explained that it was for future use they gave
me an exception to the park rule that only one camping vehicle could be parked on a site. They said
they would let the patrolling ranger know it was approved so he wouldn’t bother me.
This is a magnificent state park! The campsites are well separated, level, beautifully maintained and the
scenery is really wonderful. I found my pull thru site 29 with no problem. Pulled in, leveled the Dog
House, hooked up the water and electric to both and settled in for a two-night stay.
Chester immediately had to go for a walk even though the temperature was close to 80 degrees. We
took our time and covered about 2 miles walking along the road through the campground. This place is
huge and everything is extremely will maintained. Most of the sites are along the water and have a nice
grass boarder along the water line. There are not too many people here now. I suspect the place will fill
up later this evening and Saturday.
Yep, they began to pour in about 4:00 and by 8:00 the place was half full. People out walking pets
everywhere. Chester just ignores them unless they come close; then he just watches them carefully
until they pass on by. Several people stopped and commented on the combination of BAM/Dog House.
Seems this is a rare combination and people are curious. I may have to print a handout the explains the
reason for it. It is amazing how strangers recognize the significance of what is going to be a wonderful
adventure for three old farts and a bipolar dog.
This is the BAM/Dog House in site 29 at Salt Lick Creek State Park, TN.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
4/30/2016 Saturday
Salt Lick Creek State Park in the rain most of the morning. Chester was ready for his morning stroll at
7:00 so with coffee in hand we set off for a short tour of the now well populated campground. The rain
had paused just long enough for us to get our tour completed before it started up again. We both went
back to bed and slept until almost 11:00. Rain on the roof is so soothing it makes sleeping great. Almost
too great, if you know what I mean. The coffee had gone through and was about to make an exit when I
woke up just in time. Strange dream of being in a bathroom in a hotel under construction with a toilet
that was higher than me. Guess it was lucky I wasn’t able to climb on or we would be drying out the bed
for sure.
Since we are staying here 2 nights, we just loafed today. The rain stopped around noon and it was very
nice outside, even if it was sort of like a sauna. Another walk for Chester and a short, non-productive
fishing trip for me was about it. Took the drone out for a few pictures and video of this campground.
One still shot of the BAM/Dog House is above. I will have to post the video to You Tube and add a link to
this page. Can’t do it now because this place is so remote, there is no cell phone coverage. That means
no internet, too. Bummer!
Salt Lick Creek State Park, TN, from the drone.
We will leave tomorrow morning for the next stop, , only about 180 miles away so I will have time to
upload video and post links. For now, bed time. The rain is falling and making me sleepy. Good night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/1/2016 Sunday
Travel to Parker Corners RV Campground. No problems getting up, packing up and hitting the road. I
did a video of the campground as we left because we had to go all the way around the campground to
get out. It is on You Tube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-rv-ZEaPHI
The only problem is the video is not published in HD the way it was taken so it is poor quality playback.
Have to find a better way to share video.
The trip to Parker Corners was uneventful and we arrived about 2 PM. Got checked in and escorted to
our site by a staff member. Setup was easy on a concrete pad with full hookups. I am getting pretty
good at leveling the Dog House on the first try.
Chester waited somewhat impatiently for me to finish setup before going around the campground for
his normal inspection tour. About half way through the tour a very rabid butterfly approached Chester
head on and he panicked! Nearly jerked me over bolting around me to escape what was surely a vicious
attack that could have been the end of him. I think I heard the butterfly snickering as it floated away.
Following that narrow escape from the jaws of death at the wings of a rabid butterfly, Chester was quite
happy to return to the BAM for some treats.
I got out the drone and flew it around over the campground and got some nice aerial video and pictures
of the area.
Shortly after this picture, it clouded up and rained for the next 12 hours. Just glad I didn’t have to go out
in the downpour. Chester assumed his normal position in his bed and slept through the storm.
Lightening, thunder and rain drumming on the roof don’t hold a candle to the fear of rabid butterflies.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/2/2016 Monday
Up early while the rain was not falling and got Chester out for his morning duties. Spent some time on
Skype with John and Ron talking about HFI registration business and then started packing up for travel
to the next stop: The Dub’l R RV Camp in Brinkley, AR.
It rained constantly all the way to the Mississippi River and quit almost immediately after crossing into
Arkansas. The flooding was still evident in the fields and steams along the way to Brinkley. This camp
ground is definitely on the budget plan. It appears that his was a mobile home park before being
converted to an RV park. The old foundation pads for the mobile homes are still evident, but all the
hookups are new. Not much in the way of scenery and the sites are just plain open spaces next to each
other. For an overnight stop, $25 is not bad.
The picture above sums it up.
Tomorrow is a long haul to a COE campground that should be a great improvement over this one and,
hopefully, no rain.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/3/2016 Tuesday
Up early, coffee in hand, dog on leash wandering around the grounds looking for a place to do his
business. After sniffing every conceivable place, he finally selected one right in front of the only other
camper in the place, squatted and let go. He couldn’t go in the woods around the edge, he had to do it
in the most conspicuous spot in the area. I always love an audience while picking up dog poop.
We got on the road early this morning for a trip to Alley Creek Camp on Lake O’ The Pines in Texas.
Good weather for traveling; not too hot and dry, for a change. The BAM/Dog House rolled along at a
steady pace equal to the speed limit and the GPS systems agreed with each other all the way to the
Corps of Engineer campground. The fuel level got into the “Low Fuel” warning just about half way
through Arkansas and the fuel prices were at $2.29/gal everywhere. I had just passed places with prices
as low as $1.99 so I opted to continue on until the prices got better. The warning starts when the
instrument thinks there are 37.5 gallons of fuel left in the 150-gallon fuel tank. At 6.5 miles to the
gallon, that gives me 243.75 miles range before it runs out of fuel, in theory. That theory got put to the
test this time. I didn’t find a place with fuel at $2.07 until we were well inside Texas and the warning
was down to 7.5 gallons. The pucker factor had risen to the point that price didn’t matter anymore, but
I got lucky and pulled into an Exxon station/convenience store to fill up.
Had to use the credit card 3 times because the pump stops at $100. Total fill up came to 134 gallons so I
still had 16 gallons when the fuel warning said I had 7.5 gallons. Nice to know it lied to me. Now, I just
hope it is consistent in its lie.
Stopped at a Walmart in Texarkana to stock up on a few things and get some beer and wine. Guess
what; this is a dry county. I asked one of the clerks where was the nearest place to acquire the desired
beverages and was told to go back across the border to Arkansas or into the next county. The next
county was better than backtracking 20 miles so, 40 miles later, I am approaching the Alley Creek
Campground and see the county line sign. Hooray, now for a place that I can get the BAM into. No such
luck; everything was either too small or had full parking lots. No wine with dinner tonight.
The campground is very nice, as are most COE campgrounds. It would be nice if the COE could build
hospitals as well as they build campgrounds. Wait a minute; I remember being told by the Deputy Chief
of Engineers that part of the money I was paying the COE for supervision and administration of my
hospital projects was being used to pay for the S&A on campgrounds. The Army Medical Construction
Program helped pay for this campground!
The staff checked me in and one of the civilian staff escorted me to the site, E206. It is a back-in site
that is 89 feet long. No problem backing in and everything leveled up nicely without having to use the
wheel lifts on the Dog House.
The neighbors next to me have a make shift arrangement of tarps over frames and a tent covered with a
tarp. It looks like a gypsy camp and I was a little worried until a guy came crawling out of the tent and
said “Hi, come on over!” Turns out, Ricky and his friend Tom, have been coming here for 11 years and
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
have developed a camping style that is unique. They stay
for 2 to 4 weeks each time. Ricky works in the Alaskan oil
fields near Prudhoe Bay and has 3 months off, 3 months on
shifts. He lives in Amarillo but his wife could come with him
this year because she is a Republican delegate and has to
attend some meetings this week.
Ricky has been at war with a squirrel and some Blue Jays
that get into the peanuts he keeps in his “open air tent”.
His BB gun doesn’t intimidate them at all. In fact, while we
were talking, the squirrel came up, scampered into the tent
and tried to get into the can of peanuts sitting on top of the refrigerator. Ricky charged and the squirrel
hurried away just as the Blue Jay came swooping in for a look. Fly swatter in hand, Ricky took a few
swings and the bird left without much fuss. I wish I were going to stay longer just to watch this show.
I cooked steak and bacon wrapped scallops on the charcoal fire tonight. Really good, even without the
wine. As I was cooking, I heard a lot of noise coming from the trees around the campsite. Looking up, I
saw a dead tree with several buzzards sitting on the limbs. They apparently roost here every night. Now
I am glad to leave in the morning!
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/4/2016 Wednesday
First things first, check on campsite at Austin Lone Star RV Resort. Bad news, no sites available that will
meet the need. Decided to break the trip into two days since the last leg from Waco to Austin is under
construction around Waco and traffic is expected to be bad. Selected another COE campground near
the halfway point and got a reservation online with no problem. Spent most of the morning cleaning up
the BAM and getting things organized.
Finally left about 10:30 and arrived at the Liberty Hill campground on Navarro Lake, TX. Arrived there at
2:00 and discovered the worst COE campground I have ever seen. Very few people here with over 100
empty sites. Grass had not been cut in weeks, sites were poorly maintained. Had to find the site I had
reserved in the biblical method, Seek and Ye Shall Find. No signs to indicate which way the site numbers
ran and only the site map provided when I checked in provided a vague idea of where my site was
located. After lots of Seeking and not much Finding, I finally located the site and found that trees
overhanging the site prevented using it being used as a pull thru as designed. Backed into the site and
got setup with the BAM level but no way the Dog House could be leveled.
Since the site was right on the lake, the wind was blowing at about 15-20 mph the whole time I was
there. Couldn’t have a campfire because of the high wind and dry grass even though the ground was
wet. Go figure, only in Texas. The other interesting thing about this campground was the sign at the
entrance prohibiting carrying firearms in any fashion, open or concealed. What a joke. Some anti-gun
bureaucrat in the local COE district probably concocted that totally unenforceable rule because this is
the first time I have ever seen such a dumb rule posted at a COE campground. I even asked a couple of
campers out walking their dog if they saw that sign. They laughed and said, “must have missed that”,
and showed me the Glock he had stuck in his waist band. His Glock was bigger than my Walther PPK so
we parted laughing about size matters in some situations. I think his wife was laughing for a different
reason.
Too windy to fly the drone for pictures so Chester and I went back to the BAM to see if we could find a
campground in the Austin area. After several failed attempts to locate a suitable place, I finally got lucky
at the La Hacienda RV Resort on Lake Travis. They only had 2 nights available but that was better than
the Walmart parking lot so I snapped it up. Will work on the other 2 nights needed after getting to
Austin.
I fixed some shrimp wrapped in bacon in the microwave and Chester got his share. Then we went to
bed early for a change.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/5/2016 Thursday
Got up early and took Chester for a nice long walk. Very nice in the early morning with no wind blowing.
Met the same couple from yesterday as they were out early with their dogs. Seems like dogs drive the
schedule when you are camping. He was sporting a Smith and Wesson .357 this morning. I still had my
little Walther PPK, but if I had known I would see them again, I would have been packing the Taurus
Judge .45/.410.
After some more housekeeping, Chester and I set out for Austin by way of Waco. No problems with
traffic until we arrived in Waco where there was massive construction underway on the Interstate.
Traffic came to a halt and moved at a snail’s pace for the next 15 miles. Finally got into the La Hacienda
RV Resort at 1:30 and had the good fortune to find out that I could get an extra 2 nights if I was willing
to move to a different site. No problem. That solved the relocation to another campground problem.
Got everything setup by 2:00. Great place with well-maintained grounds, level sites, nice dog play area
(it even has a doggie bath) and nice laundry facilities. It was 92 degrees when I arrived so I turned on
the roof AC to help cool it down quickly. That usually trips the 50-amp breaker on the shore power post
but this time it did not. They have a very robust electrical system here.
Talked with Sue and Doug. They are going to bring over supper to fix here so Sue can learn how the
kitchen works and get acquainted with the layout.
They arrived about 4:00 after having been trapped in some awful traffic trying to get here. Doug said it
should have taken about 15 minutes to get here instead of the 45 minutes they spent in traffic. Doug
was driving when they pulled into the camp site. His portable oxygen concentrator fit nicely behind the
front seats in their mini-van.
We spent the next hour going over where everything was stored. Sue did a mental check of what else
we needed for her shopping list. Then Sue got busy with preparing ham slices, green beans and
potatoes in a big pot on the gas stove. She now knows how to use the microwave and the gas stove.
The meal was excellent and Chester got his share after saying “please” a few times. Only said “thank
you” one time. Have to work on that.
We had a Facetime call with Suzy and Rob while Doug and Sue were here. Good to see everyone on
Rob’s birthday.
The plan for tomorrow is for Doug to meet me and Chester around 1:30, go by Lowes for some supplies
and then to their house for dinner. Chester is invited but he may stay in the BAM because it is so hot
and he can’t stay in the van while we go into Lowes.
After Doug and Sue left, I cleaned up the dishes, finished my glass of wine and went to bed. Chester
slept in the BAM and I slept in the Dog House. Chester was all comfortable in his bed when I decided to
go to the Dog House so I left him for the night. Tomorrow night, he joins me in the Dog House.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/6/2016 Friday
Got up early, 4:30 AM, made a pot of coffee, worked on emails for HFI and by 6:30 was ready to take
Chester for his morning walk. He seemed to be glad to see me after having the BAM all to himself last
night. Temperature was nice, 72 degrees, and clear sky. We walked down to the doggie play area but
there was a lady there with 2 big dogs that were anything but friendly. Chester didn’t want to have
anything to do with them as they were trying to get through the fence to get to him. The lady didn’t
even make an attempt to call them off so we just kept on walking around the campground. Those dogs
don’t belong in a campground like this, too aggressive. Chester never made a sound, but looked at me
like, “What is their problem?”
Washed the front of the BAM and cleaned the windshield. Bugs, bugs and more bugs! This is the
biggest bug smasher I have ever had. Some of them were stuck so well I had to use a green scrubbing
pad to get them off. At least, now, I can see through the windshield without having spots before my
eyes.
Fixed a hamburger with cheese, onions, tomato and horseradish mustard for brunch. Chester got his
share, as usual.
Removed the defective GFI breaker from the panel so I know what to get at Lowes. Just hope it is not
something unique to RV’s.
Doug called and we have a slight change of plans. Seems the equipment exchange for his oxygen
concentrator and the doctor’s office are in somewhat of a state of confusion. We decided to not get
together today so Doug and Sue can sort out that situation this afternoon. Hope all goes well, but we
will adjust the schedule as needed.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/7/2016 Saturday
Did the routine Chester walk, dog park, poop on the way home routine. Chester pooped, not me, but it
was questionable by the time we got back to the BAM. More information than you need, dear reader,
so I won’t go into the aromatic details of what followed. Just know that coffee has a very cathartic
effect early in the morning.
The day was spent working on the BAM, moving it to the new site, C5, for the next 2 days. The
motorhome next to me was being serviced by a company that does washing/waxing in the RV park. I
talked to the man doing the work and asked if he could take care of the BAM and Dog House by
Monday. He jumped at the opportunity for another $325 in cash on Mother’s Day.
Doug and Sue spent the day getting ready for load out on Monday and getting equipment exchanged for
the oxygen support system Doug needs for breathing support. It was finally reported that all new
equipment had been delivered and all is right with the world. Well, maybe not all, but most things are
looking up.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/8/2016 Sunday
Rain arrived today that was not supposed to happen until Monday. The guys to do the washing and
waxing showed up on time, 9 AM, and got to work on the BAM and Dog House. They worked until noon
and did a good job on the BAM. The rain didn’t make much difference since the BAM was not moving
down the road. Chester and I spent the rest of the day napping and enjoying the brief periods of no
rain.
Sue had loaned me the use of her Honda Civic, which is a very nice car, so I was able to return a circuit
breaker to Home Depot that was not the right one. Having gotten up at 5:00 AM, I was ready for some
activity that would take me away from the campground. Home Depot opened at 8 AM and I opened the
door at 8:01 AM. Returned the wrong breaker, found the right one, returned to the BAM and
completed installation.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/9/2016 Monday
Did laundry last night and put fresh, clean sheets on the bed. All is prepared for the load out on Monday
at Doug and Sue’s place. Or so I thought. Doug and Sue had brought 2 van loads of stuff to take on this
trip so I thought Monday load out at their place would be a minor addition to the GVW. I arrived at
around 9:15 AM, as planned, and was greeted with a pile of stuff to go into the BAM. I am sure every
item was absolutely essential to the trip and, somehow, fit into the BAM or Dog House. Not to belabor
the point, but the only thing left in their house was the kitchen sink! The GVW went from 18 tons to 20
tons in a matter of 2 hours.
Doug’s oxygen equipment was installed in the BAM and works great.
The loading complete, we set off on the first day of this
journey ahead of schedule at around 11:00 AM. Sue logged
on to the internet by way of the WiFi in the BAM and began a
texting conversation that kept her occupied for the next hour.
Doug provided
experienced
navigation input
to supplement
the GPS so that
we made it out of Austin without becoming involved in
any cataclysmic traffic events. The open road ahead of us
was a welcome sight when we finally cleared the urban
clutter of Austin.
The trip went fine until the temperature outside got up
into the high 80’s. At that point, we had reached the Hill Country of Texas and the BAM began to
complain about the weight by elevating the engine temperature to the warning stage. Not a problem,
but it did require a little engine management by increasing the RPM’s through downshifting and slowing
down. It is really what I expected so it came as no surprise. Have to remember to check the level of the
coolant before we start out in the morning. I am sure we lost some with the heating up of the engine.
We stopped at a picnic area on I10 about 1:30 PM for lunch and to give Chester a biological
maintenance break. It was the first time he had emerged from his travel position beside the driver’s
seat since leaving the campground this morning. He seemed delighted to have Aunt Sue and Uncle
Doug with us and he got his share of the delicious ham and cheese sandwiches we had for lunch.
We traveled on under the guidance of only one GPS which I had programmed with the address of the
Caverns of Sonora Campground a few days earlier. Mistake! It took us off the Interstate at the first exit
to Sonora and led us to a dirt road that it said was the connector to the campground. That was
obviously not right, so with a little back and forth maneuvering, we turned the BAM around and headed
back to Interstate 10 and reprogrammed the GPS to the Caverns of Sonora Campground using the Find a
Campground feature on the GPS. That worked and we finally ended up, 15 miles later, at the desired
location. It is located out in the boonies but we have a good cell signal so we are in communication with
the internet.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
I went to the office/general store to register and found that it is also the source of homemade fudge in a
variety of flavors. The German Chocolate was wonderful so I bought a half pound as our reward for a
successful first day of travel. The staff is very friendly and didn’t charge for the extra campsite when it
became necessary to drop the Dog House in one site and pull the BAM in beside it. The pull thru sites
were not long enough for us to stay connected, but it worked out fine. Only water and electric here so
we are using the holding tanks and will have to dump at the next stop.
We had some chicken on the grill using one of the small, post mounted grills located in a nice little stand
of trees beside our campsite. Sue fixed a great salad, to go with the chicken and we had some Buffalo
Cauliflower in a Steamer bag. The salad was excellent, the wine was flowing down hill, and Chester was
right there for his share of
the feast. The chicken was
not the best. It got a little
over done because the grill
was so small and the meat
was too close to the coals.
While I was cooking, a nice
couple from Anchorage,
Alaska, came by and we
talked about our travels.
They left Anchorage back in
March and are on the way
back home. They will be stopping in Phoenix but will go all the way there from here in one day.
It is now 4 AM so I am going to close out for tonight. Doug and Sue are secure in the BAM and Chester
and I are nicely accommodated in the Dog House. This was a great idea, even if I do say so myself!
Chester is not too sure about it, but he will adjust.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/10/16 Tuesday
Up early at 7:00, coffee in hand and Chester on the leash, we did the morning rounds of the
campground. There were 3 horses grazing in the area near the back of the BAM but Chester opted to
keep his distance. The birds were making a racket and the world was coming to life. I wondered when it
would be safe to check on Sue and Doug but as I approached the door, Doug met me all dressed and
ready for the day.
Seems last night was less than a restful sleep. They were up at 5:00 AM after having a difficult time
adjusting to the sleeping arrangements in the BAM. Doug was mumbling something about Sue being a
blanket hog and Sue denied the whole thing. This is going to be a really fun trip!!
We finished breakfast and prepared to travel. Hooked up to the Dog House and we were on the road by
about 10. Leaving that late put us into the heat of the day and the BAM complained about it all the way
to our next stop at the Balmorhea State Park. Have to have the cooling system checked while we are in
Tempe and see if there is an auxiliary fan that can be added to help keep the engine temperature down.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
We arrived at the State Park at 3:00 PM. Check in was closed. A sign on the door said the office hours
were from 8 to 12 daily. The sign said to follow the
instructions on the bulletin board to locate your site if
you had reservations or to pick an available site if you
didn’t have reservations. We had reservations but the
site was only big enough for the Dog House and a
back-in site, too. A nice lady, who must be one of the
Camp Hosts, came to meet us as we were pulling out
of the parking area. She guided us to the site we had
reserved and then took us to a pull through that was
just about 6 inches longer than the BAM/Dog House
combination. But we fit so she left us to finish setting up. That is when the fun began.
During the brief period between shutting down the generator and getting shore power hooked up, the
BAM got hot inside. Not an unusual situation and one that is remedied with shore power to the AC. Sis
does not tolerate heat well at all and getting the BAM cooled down took longer than expected because
the shore power connection kept shutting off. One leg of the 220v receptacle kept dropping out and the
surge protector would disconnect from shore power. Doug’s oxygen equipment sensed the change and
set off an alarm, but the house battery powered inverter had restored 120v power in an instant so the
problem was resolved by pushing the reset button on the oxygen equipment and it resumed normal
function. The major problem was that the AC quit when shore power was lost. After several failed
attempts to get the shore power to stay on, I found a maintenance man who was going off duty but did
take the time to get his boss to give us permission to take any other site we wanted that wasn’t already
occupied.
It so happened that the site we were in was next to the Camp Host site and had a sewer connection
available. Since we had been dry camping, that is without sewer connection, the holding tanks on the
BAM should be about half full by now. Normally, the BAM is good for 3 or 4 days without dumping the
holding tanks. Just to be safe, I checked the holding tank gauges and found the gray water tank was full.
One night and it was full! Seems we have at least one person in the group that enjoys long showers way
too much when we are on holding tanks without sewer connection. Not mentioning any names, just
saying. There is a learning curve for every aspect of camping in the BAM and we are going through that
trial by fire for the next few days. It will take a little time to get into the swing of things and that is to be
expected.
One fun fact about this place. There are a pair of cougars roaming the area and some nesting eagles.
The lady who greeted us asked if I had any pets with me. Yes, Chester, the bi-polar dog. She said to be
very careful when the dog was out as they have had several small dogs snatched up by the eagles. That
is an image I don’t want to keep. She said Chester was probably okay because he is too big for them,
but the cougars still could be a threat so be sure he stays on a leash at all times. Guess that is so you can
find what’s left after a cougar attack. I would think that with the hundreds of rabbits inhabiting this
place the cougars and eagles would have plenty of meals on paws without having to attack pets.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
This view of the second location
of the BAM/Dog House gives a
little insight into the environment
around us. Not much more than
scrub brush and a lot of rabbits.
There are more pictures on the
drone that I have not downloaded
yet but I will try to send a page or
two of pictures and maybe post a
video on You Tube in the next few
days.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/11/16 Wednesday
The start of another day of adventure was pretty normal. Same routine with Chester, coffee and poop
bag. Sue was up early and Doug slept a little longer than Sue. The, becoming normal, routine for
breakfast was completed while I made the Dog House ready to travel.
The windshield of the BAM was almost completely opaque with bug residue from the day’s travel on
Tuesday. The side winds were strong enough that we had bug splatter on the side windows! Washing
with a brush got most of the bug juice off but left the windshield with a smeared look. Have to get a
squeegee blade for the brush pole at the next Flying J/Pilot stop. Dumped the Dog House holding tanks
at the dump station as we were departing the campground.
First surprise of the day came when I stopped by the office to complete the registration. I had already
paid for the campsite when I made the reservation so I was not expecting to have to pay more, but,
surprise! They have a $21 entrance fee to get into the state park so you can stay in the campsite you
paid $17 for on the reservation. Oh well, Texas doesn’t have a State Income Tax so I guess they have to
get their money from somewhere. Just seems odd to pay $21 to get to a $17 campsite.
The road to El Paso was not at all bad and the BAM only complained a little bit about some of the
gradual hills we climbed. Maximum altitude we reached was somewhere around 4,600 feet and Doug’s
big oxygen machine (think I will call it “Big Mamma”) kept him well supplied with oxygen. I would hate
to see him starting to resemble a Smurf while we are traveling at high altitude. Big Mamma seems well
up to the task.
Arrived at the Fort Bliss FAMCAMP in El Paso around 1:00.
Since one can’t make a reservation for the FAMCAMP, you
take your chances on getting a site. We were fortunate that
there were many sites available and the registration clerk
took me around the campground in his golf cart to check out
the available sites. Number 42 was the furthest from the
main highway and located right on the end of the row of
sites. Easy pull thru that was exactly 65’ long. The BAM/Dog
House fit perfectly on the level concrete pad. Set up was
easy and we now have sewer connected to the BAM so
someone, who shall remain nameless, can take as long in the
shower as she wants and use all the water she wants without
filling up the holding tank. Hooray!!
There was a Subway at the PX Express next to the campground
so I got our lunch from there. Very good subs, as always. We
decided to take a taxi to the Texas Roadhouse on Fort Bliss for
dinner tonight.
Well, things don’t always go as planned. First, just getting a
taxi was a bit of a challenge. Finally got a Checker Cab to pick us up at the campsite, but the driver was
not familiar with where the Texas Roadhouse was located on the base. He thought the one we wanted
was some place off I-10. Finally showing him the website address of the Texas Roadhouse we wanted to
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
go to, he recommended the Cattlemen’s Steakhouse instead. Great enthusiasm for the wonderful
steaks there. But, as it turned out, the main reason he was so enthusiastic about the off base
steakhouse was that his cab was not authorized to go on base. Reluctantly, we agreed to his suggestion
and set off on a trip to the unknown. As we were zipping along HWY 54 toward who knows where,
Doug asked how far was this place because he has a limited O2 supply. That apparently changed the
driver’s focus to getting us to a steakhouse quickly rather than to the Cattlemen’s. He pointed out a
Great American Land & Cattle Company Steakhouse along the access road beside the highway and I said
that was good. We were given a tour of the parking lot at Walmart and several other side streets
before we finally arrived at The Great American Land & Cattle Company Steakhouse. It was not the
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse but it was closer, and I have eaten at these places before and they are very
good. Finally rid of the cab driver we were welcomed to the restaurant and enjoyed a great meal. My
ribeye was excellent. Sue ordered the battered fish and her plate had enough fish on it to feed all of us.
My steak was too big for me so Chester was in for a treat when we got home. Doug was the smart one
of the crowd and order a filet that was just the right size and must have been good. He didn’t save a
bite for Chester.
When we were finished with our meal, I asked the nice waitress to have the front desk call a taxi for us.
She reported back that it was being taken care of. No problem, or was there a problem? When we
walked out to the lobby to wait for the cab, I asked the nice folks behind the reception desk if the cab
was on the way and was told she had tried 5 different cab companies and the earliest one was 40
minutes away. I explained that we had a potential Smurf with us and we really needed to get a cab
sooner. They got very busy on the phone and a few minutes later let us know that a cab would be here
in about 15 minutes. They were very nice and wanted to make sure Doug could plug in his portable
oxygen machine (Little Mamma) if needed. Doug assured everyone he had plenty of time left on the
battery. The young lady who had been leading the attack on the cab companies, came out to the cab
and wished us well as we began our very quick return trip to the BAM. Amazing how much faster the
trip is when you don’t wander around a Walmart parking lot and a few side roads. One more for the
journal!
Chester was happy to see us back and I think he anticipated receiving something special for he was
ready to go to the Dog House after Doug and Sue were safely ensconced in the BAM. I had stored the
two boxes containing the leftover steak and fish in the refrigerator. When I opened the steak, Chester
was ready for a few tasty morsels. I have never given him fried fish before so I wasn’t sure he would like
it. He didn’t like it, he loved it! He scarfed up 2 pieces of fish and was ready for more but he has to be
limited in “people food” or he will gain more weight. He wasn’t too happy about being denied his new
found favorite food, but he will get over it.
Well, so much for today’s adventures. We all survived in fine style and with full tummies. Tomorrow is a
little longer travel time, about 5 hours, so we plan to leave around 9:30. The morning rush hour traffic
in El Paso should be over by that time and we will be heading out of town, too.
Good night! Going back to bed for a couple of hours and then we will be rolling along.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/12/2016 Thursday
Today we travel to the Magic Circle RV Resort in Wilcox, AZ. The morning routine of Chester being taken
for a walk was completed early. Doug and Sue survived the night, but I noticed the fresh water tank was
overflowing this morning. I thought I had turned off the valve that puts water into the tank but it was
still going into the tank from the hose connection. Strange. Have to look into that when we get to the
next stop.
We got on the road at about our normal departure time, between 9 and 10. The trip was through some
desolate land in New Mexico and Arizona but fascinating in its own peculiar way. How anything could
live and thrive in such barren conditions is amazing.
BAM didn’t like the hot weather or the hills, but with a little engine RPM management, it rolled on to
our destination without incident.
Now the fun began!
I checked in at the office; explained the BAM/Dog House combination to the nice lady who ran the place,
and decided to take two site side by side since one site would not be long enough for the
combination. No problem, plenty of spaces available. The sites assigned were as far away from the I-10
traffic noise as you could get but still well with the 90 decibel range when big trucks backed off on the
Jake Brakes.
I pulled into the site with 30-amp service to drop the Dog House
and the BAM would be in the site next to it that had 50-amp
service. When I pushed the button on the electric jack to lift the
Dog House off the trailer hitch ball, nothing happened. Several
tries didn’t improve the situation, so out comes the wrench
used to raise and lower the stabilizer jacks. It fits into a hole in
the top of the electric jack to allow it to be operated manually.
Only problem, the thing was stuck tight in the fully retracted
position. Well I know how to fix that, get out the BIG pipe wrench and add its torque to the problem. It
worked and broke the stuck jack screw loose. But the electric motor still wouldn’t operate. No time to
mess with finding the problem now. I used the wrench to raise the tongue off the ball hitch and got the
BAM moved into the site next door.
Next task is hooking up to shore utilities; electric, water and sewer. First, the Dog House. Water and
sewer connections were no problem, but the electrical connection wasn’t so easy. The power post was
about 18 inches high and looked to be about a 1970’s vintage. The back side of the post was hanging on
by a loose bolt and the front side opened only enough to see the plug and 2 circuit breakers. I got the
plug connection completed and flipped the two breakers to the on position. Nothing happened. Tried
again, still nothing. Oh great, a defective power pole. No problem. I got out the 20 foot extension cord I
carry for connecting to distant power supplies and hooked up to the new power post on the site on the
other side of the Dog House. It was a modern version of the power pole with both a 50-amp and 30amp plug and the appropriate breaker switches. Problem solved, power on to the Dog House.
Now for the BAM. Same type pole as the one that didn’t work for the Dog House and it only had a 30amp outlet. I am not going to fight that problem when there was a new power pole on the next site
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
over, so I moved the BAM to that site and hooked up everything. I will let the lady at the office know
about the change in sites and defective power poles later.
I took Chester for a walk and when I returned a 10 minutes later, there was water running out of the
overflow on the fresh water tank. What was causing that is a mystery but when I shut off the outside
hose, the overflow stopped. Okay, we will just use the water from the tank instead of the hose
connection. No problem.
I went to the office and explained my electrical issues to the lady who told me there are 3, not 2, circuit
breakers in the old poles and the third one is way up at the top of the pole so that it can’t be seen unless
you are down on your hands and knees looking under the cover. Old farts don’t do hands and knees
unless there is a very good reason, so her explanation didn’t do much to improve my perception of the
ancient technology in use. Sure enough she was right. I did the hands and knees thing just to see for
myself what she was talking about and there it was; a third breaker at the very top of the pole hidden by
the cover. Same design on the post we had abandoned as having only a 30-amp outlet, with one
overlooked exception. An electrical box had been added to the top of that post, facing the opposite
direction from the one below where the 30-amp connection lived. The top box contained a 50-amp
connection if you played the “wonder what’s in this box” game.
After watching a Jack rabbit and some quail wandering around near the campsite, Chester and I retired
to the Dog House. Tomorrow is a short 80 miles or so to Tucson and we are supposed to stay at the Lazy
Days RV Resort which is part of the biggest RV dealer in the US so I hope to have them take a look at the
water tank overflow problem.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/13/2016 Friday
Chester and I got up around 7:00 and started out for our morning walk with a stop off at the BAM to
deliver some apples that had been requested the night before.
The fun began earlier than usual today. It seems the water had stopped flowing in the BAM sometime
during the night and Doug and Sue were reluctant to wake me. I couldn’t believe they would have
drained a full fresh water tank in one night so I turned on the water hose connection outside and they
had water. And, only a few minutes later I had water coming out the overflow again. Something wasn’t
adding up. It takes an hour to fill the fresh water tank and it had only been a few minutes. As long as
the hose connection was on, water flowed from the taps inside the BAM and also from the overflow on
the fresh water tank. Not a good sign. Turned off the water and went inside to check that the pump
was on. The light was illuminated indicating the pump was on, but I didn’t hear it running when opening
a tap. The fresh water tank gauge showed that it was full, which I already knew, so that means the pump
is not working. Now we have a real problem that requires fixing soon. If the Lazy Days RV place
can take care of it today, it still means we have no water until it is done and that could take hours of
sitting in a waiting room. That little word “if” tipped the scales in favor of bypassing Tucson and going
on to Tempe where Doug and Sue could move into the hotel. Then I could work on the BAM problem
and it doesn’t have to be fixed right away.
I called John and Cindy around 8:00 AM, my time, and John let me know it was 7:00 AM there. He was
up but Cindy had not yet graced the day with her presence. I explained the situation to John and asked
if he would go poke the sleeping grizzle bear with a long stick and run for his life after leaving a cup of
coffee behind. Fortunately for John, Cindy stumbled into the room and headed for the coffee on her
own.
John breathed a sigh of relief, explained the situation to Cindy and we had a plan. Doug and Sue would
either move into a room when we arrived or they could wait in John and Cindy’s room until a room
became available. Knowing the miracle worker that Cindy is, I had no doubt they would have a room
when we arrived.
Okay, problem solved. Now we were ready to pack up, hook up the Dog House and hit the road for
Tempe. I had found the problem with the electric jack was nothing more than a blown inline fuse, which
I replaced, and it worked fine. Hooked up to the Dog House and started out of the campground when I
thought it would be a good idea to check the air pressure in the right rear tires on the BAM because the
outside tire looked a little bulged out.
Now we come to the second problem of the day and we haven’t even gotten out of the campground.
The inside tire on the right rear was flat. That is why the outside tire was bulging; it was carrying the
load. Luckily, there was a TA truck stop just across the intersection from the campground so I gently
drove the BAM to the Tire Repair facility right next to it. Only they couldn’t fix it because they only work
on trucks, not RV’s. They were kind enough to recommend another place, Dick’s Tire, just across the
bridge over the Interstate and to the left at McDonalds. Again, very gently, I drove to Dick’s Tire.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
When I explained the problem to the nice lady behind the counter, who it turns out was Dick’s wife, she
called her husband into the office and they got busy rearranging the schedule to get us in right away. I
dropped the Dog House across the street from Dick’s and backed the BAM into a place in front of the
open bay. I lifted the backend of the BAM with the leveling jacks after the mechanic placed some wheel
chocks under the front wheel so it wouldn’t roll. Dick and I talked while his mechanic removed the tire
and checked it to see what caused the flat. Turned out to be nothing more than a valve stem had
worked loose from the rim and let all the air out. That was replaced, the tire
inflated to the required 100 lbs pressure and returned to its position on the
BAM. All this took about an hour but a lot of work to remove both wheels from
the rear to get to the inside wheel. When I went in to the office to pay,
expecting at least a $150 bill, or more, I was only charged $44 for fixing a flat.
You don’t often find nice people who treat you fairly in remote areas along the
Interstate when they know they have you by the whatever.
Doug was taking pictures of this whole operation so I will have to borrow some
of his pictures to supplement the dialogue. I really enjoyed talking to Dick and
learning more about his plans to move back to Mooresville, NC, where people
still cared about Southern Hospitality. He said he was tired of the rude people
who populated this area and he also shared with me that he had been
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Being only 55 years old, that was a
very early onset but he seemed to be functioning well for now. I told him of some of the research I
know about because of Dee’s problem and gave him some links to websites he might find encouraging.
He and his wife are very nice people and I wished them well when we left.
The journey to Tempe, once we got on the road with the tire problem fixed, was uneventful. Cindy did
her usual miracle work and let us know Doug and Sue would have a room for tonight that was not far
from the suite they would have for the rest of the symposium. She even got my room made available
tonight for the duration of the symposium.
The early arrival at the Apache Palms RV Resort in downtown Tempe was interesting. We had no
problem finding it, but getting into it was not easy because of the way the divided roadway is separated
by commuter rails and it is impossible to make a U turn with the BAM/Dog House. The natural solution
to that condition is to make 3 right turns to go around the block. Great solution if you don’t drive up on
a crime scene that has the street blocked off after the second right turn. Seems there had been a triple
shooting here last night and the whole area was blocked off. Again, Doug has the pictures. There was
no traffic on the street so it was simple to back the BAM/Dog House about 300 feet so I could go back
out the street I came in on. I was just hoping the cops
didn’t think we were retreating to avoid being
apprehended for some involvement with whatever they
were investigating.
All went well when we finally were in the Apache Palms.
John and Cindy came over, loaded up Doug and Sue,
along with Big Mamma and Little Mamma for the trip
back to the hotel. I won’t comment on how someone,
who shall remain nameless, was stoically enduring the
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
heat for most of the trip and couldn’t wait to get into the air conditioned comfort of a real hotel room. I
always thought Chester tolerated the heat better than that; guess not.
After delivering the first load to the hotel, John came back for Chester and me. We made a futile effort
to get a rental car for me at the local Enterprise Car Rental place and found that everything within 10
miles was sold out because of the graduation taking place this weekend at Arizona State, next door to
the hotel. Back to the BAM, load up a few more clothes bags for Sue and my few things; load in
Chester’s bed, food and water bowl and Chester. He hopped right into the back seat like he knew we
were going somewhere he wanted to go.
When we arrived at the hotel, I took Chester with me to the check-in counter where he acted like he
was just another customer. I really don’t understand this dog. You would think walking into a strange
building with lots of people would be a scary thing for a dog with his fear of almost everything. Not
today, he seemed right at home here. Even walked right into the elevator when the doors opened like
he had been doing this all his life. Makes me wonder. The bell hop got in the elevator with the big cart
full of our stuff and Chester made room for it. When we got to the third floor, the doors opened and he
marched out and went to our room very calm, cool and collected. I opened the door to the room and he
was the first one in. I don’t know where the Chester I know has gone but this one is sure a nice
substitute. After sniffing all around the room, he went to his bed and curled up for a nap.
Doug, Sue, John, Cindy and I met for dinner in the hotel restaurant. We had a great time reliving some
of the adventures of the day, and previous days. The food was very good and the leftover half of my fish
sandwich went into a doggie box for Chester. He thoroughly enjoyed it, too.
Tomorrow, I plan to contact some of the local RV dealers to make an appointment to have the BAM’s ills
cured. When I asked the GPS to show me the RV Services available, the list was over 15 within 10 miles
of the Apache Palms. We will see how many of them can do the job.
Good night for now.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/15/2016 Saturday
Chester’s hotel manners are remarkable. No barking, sleeps in his bed, gets in and out of the elevator
with no fuss, waits until we get the dog walk before doing his business. Only problem is, once he gets
outside his paranoia begins to kick in and he is on constant alert for the slightest threat. So far, no rabid
butterflies have been encountered, but I am sure he knows they are out there just waiting for him to
drop his guard so they can attack.
The first day in the hotel started with breakfast in the hotel restaurant with Doug, Sue, Cindy and John.
The waitress was already being primed for the arrival of the Ya-Ya Group. Cindy and John have been
here a couple of days doing the pre-symposium stuff and part of that is warning the staff about the YaYa’s. That is a good thing.
The food here is excellent, which is a bad thing for my already extended waistline, but we only do this
once a year, so what the heck. Doug and Sue are enjoying the nice air-conditioned comfort of the hotel
where there are no unexpected interruption of power or water. Speaking of which, diagnosing and
fixing the water problem is one of the priorities for the day.
John and I took off in the van for the Apache Palms RV Park early to retrieve a few more things that
needed to be in the hotel and it gave me the opportunity to check on the water pump. Sure enough,
power was present at the pump but being ignored by the pump which translates to bad pump, bad
pump. That will have to be replaced and I can do that before having an RV service do it.
The printer I bought at Sam’s Club had to be returned because it refused to talk to the network or the
computer (bad printer, bad printer) and there was a Sam’s Club not too far away. With John driving and
Siri navigating, we soon found it and returned the bad printer, after a good scolding, and bought a
Cannon printer as a replacement. It was a cheap one but the ink for it cost almost 2/3rds of the price of
the printer. One more item off the To-Do list.
Next was to find a water pump. So, off we went in search of a Camping World that was located some 7
miles away, and we actually found it without much difficulty. They had the pump I needed and the
counter man at the parts department said that was probably the cause of the overflowing freshwater
tank so that would be fixed when the new pump is installed. We are on the way to solving another
problem, but not quite there yet.
Next on the list was to find an Apple store and a replacement power supply for Doug’s MacBook Pro.
Seems his has a unique power supply connection that is unlike the rest of the world. Finding the Apple
store provided a bit more of a challenge than the other places we have visited this morning. It was
located in a very upscale shopping center and Siri gave us direction to where she thought it was located,
but we didn’t see it. John parked the van and we started walking around looking for the store. Finally
found it right where Siri said it was, but we just missed it as we turned the corner where the store
displayed the big Apple logo, but no sign saying “Apple Store”. The place was packed with people,
mostly teenagers and college kids, but we found a store clerk who directed us to the display of
MacBooks. They all looked alike until John discovered a 13” MacBook Pro on the counter behind us and
it had a different power supply connection. Just to be sure, I sent a picture of it to Sue and Doug for
confirmation that we had found the right item. Ah, the sweet feeling of success, when it was confirmed.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
Now we had one more item to check on and that was a rental car for me. The Enterprise Rental Agency
was not far from the campground and on the way back we stopped to see if there was a car available
now. Several cars were in the parking lot, but arriving at the door at 3:00 PM, we found the store closed
at 2:00 PM on Saturday. Bummer.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped off at the BAM and left the water pump there for installation
on Sunday morning.
Back at the hotel, after taking Chester out for another confrontation with city nature, I unpacked the new
printer and set it up. Only one little problem, no USB cable in the box to connect to the computer.
No problem, just connect with the wireless capability built-in to the printer. Yeah, easier said than done.
After 2 hours of trial and error and an occasional glance at the directions, I finally got it to work. But it
only worked when connected to one computer, not a network connection to be used by multiple
computers.
The rest of the evening was devoted to HFI business with the Board Meeting so I won’t bore you with
the details of that. Tomorrow is devoted to fixing the water pump on the BAM after the HFI Golf outing
is underway.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/15/2016 Sunday
Up early for Chester’s morning constitutional, rabid butterfly avoidance run, and quick return to the
safety of the hotel. All of his business was completed by 6:00 AM and the golfers were assembling in the
lobby for the trip to the golf course. Chester greeted most of them and ignored some of them. He just
wanted to go back to bed.
Ron, Doug and I loaded up in the van and found our way to the golf course without a problem. Doug
and Ron loaded the camera equipment and Little Mamma into a golf cart, I collected the money for the
mulligans, and the golf cart race was on for the first tee. Doug did a remarkable job photographing the
golfers in action and he can probably get a good fee for destroying a few of the more embarrassing
shots. I waited in the clubhouse restaurant while they made the rounds taking pictures. All went well,
Doug didn’t begin to look like a Smurf but he was a little pooped after all that work.
We got back to the hotel around 8:30 and Ron then took me to the BAM for my morning objective of
water pump replacement. The job actually went without a hitch and it solved the problem of
overflowing freshwater tanks. I know it makes for boring reading, but sometimes things do go as
planned.
Returned to the hotel by way of Ron and Ellie’s Taxi service. Got cleaned up a bit and we went to lunch
in the open air dining area of the hotel restaurant were dogs are permitted. Chester stayed under my
chair and the table the whole time, keeping a watchful eye out for the dreaded rabid butterfly. He
relaxed his vigil just long enough to take a few morsels of chicken from my chicken salad.
This afternoon, Kristy King, who tries to keep all our administrative stuff straight, needed to print some
stuff using the printer I had instead of having it done at the hotel business office. The cost of the print
job would have been over $100 so this job more than paid for the printer. No problem. Well, maybe a
little problem. That was when I remembered I had left my computer case, with computer, in the van
and it was now somewhere else. Without my computer, the printer doesn’t print. No problem. Kristy
brought her computer to my room and after a half an hour, we had it connected and printing. During all
this time, Chester was rapidly becoming best friends with Kristy. She gave him all the attention he
wanted and that just made him want more. So much so that he was willing to demonstrate all his tricks
for her, and he doesn’t do that for just anybody.
When the printing was finally finished and Kristy was backing out the door blowing kisses to Chester and
saying “Goodbye, Sweetie” to Chester, it occurred to me that anyone outside the room didn’t know
there was a dog in the room. If some of our attendees are out there, this is going to be hard to explain.
Fortunately, no one was around so it is now just an amusing note in the journal.
The Herman Miller reception for the group was a big success, as usual. Cindy did a fantastic job of
organizing the catering and venue. Rick Fisk presented the golfers with prizes for their stellar
performances on the links earlier today. Doug’s photo journalism of the HFI group continued.
An old friend, Kip Edwards and his West Point roommate, dropped by for a visit during the reception and
it was great to see him again after several years. We first met at Fort Riley back in 1975 and now we
have kids older than we were back then. We have a lot of catching up to do and I hope we have the
chance to spend more time together over the next few days of the symposium.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
It is always great to see so many good friends come together, even if it is only once a year. It is not the
same without Dee, but she is here in spirit and her name is spoken often as the Ya-Ya’s reminisce about
their fabled history. Sue has done a magnificent job of recording the exploits of this group. Dee’s
imprint will never fade from the memory of so many who knew her well. And that is a good thing.
Good Night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/16/2016 Monday
First day of the Symposium got off to a great start. I was going to take the BAM to Freightliner for its
checkup this morning, but decided to wait until after the first speaker to be sure we were off to a good
start and, thanks to the great work of John, Cindy and Kristy it went perfectly. I just love it when a plan
comes together.
Not a good decision to delay getting the BAM to Freightliner early. Long story short, they already had a
backlog and probably wouldn’t be able to do it today but would call me if it opened up. Back at the
Apache Palms Campground I decided to get some work done on the BAM myself, but that required a trip
to Home Depot for another circuit breaker because the one I put in before was tripping again. There
aren’t many things on that circuit that are drawing power. The ice maker may be the problem because
it trips when it starts to cycle. The other is the basement freezer and I can switch it over to 12v DC. I
will give it a try and see if that solves the tripping problem before changing out another breaker.
I waited until about 11:30 before deciding to pull the plug on Freightliner for the day and get on with the
rest of the chores. So far neither of the experiments made any difference in the GFCI breaker tripping.
Now it was time for another approach, a normal breaker, and if that tripped it is a problem that may
require a Camping World fix.
I called Enterprise Rent-a-car for a vehicle and they said they had plenty and would have someone come
pick me up at the Apache Palms in about 15 minutes. Only about 2 miles away so that should be easy.
Two hours later, and still not Enterprise driver, I called an Uber from my cell phone app and had one
there in 8 minutes. First time I have tried it and it really does work great. Payment is through the online
app and the driver was a nice young man who is a pitcher for a minor league team, Chicago Cubs.
Arrived at the hotel in only a few minutes. Cost: $5. Enterprise can go suck an egg.
Borrowed the van from John, made the trip to Home Depot, got the circuit breaker, which they keep
under lock and key, and returned to the BAM. Too late to do the installation today so save that for
tomorrow.
Got back to the hotel just in time for the Monday evening reception, but had to take Chester out first.
Just as we were returning to the hotel by way of the conference area, Cindy flagged us down with a gift
for Chester, not me, Chester. The Ya-Ya’s had a wonderful trip to Sedona today and Cindy bought
Chester a package of dipped dog biscuits at the Chocolate Factory. The dipping wasn’t chocolate so it
was not potentially harmful and Chester stood up on his hind legs to take a look and sniff the package.
Anything to look cute for the ladies. He can’t resist showing off when the ladies are around. Furball!
We thanked Cindy and John, Chester and I went to the meeting room to take care of some registration
work. Chester lay down on the floor under the table while we worked on the computer. I opened the
package of dog biscuits; that got his attention and when I offered one to him, he sniffed and gently took
it from my hand, lay down and began to inspect it. The next thing I know he has crumbs all over the
floor which he is busily licking up. Guess he liked it so I offered him the second one. The took that one
and went right to work on consuming it with great gusto. Then started look at me and asking if there
was more. Nope, he finished the package and I showed him the empty cellophane package. Right then I
knew he wanted ask Cindy if there were refills available.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
After finishing the registration work, I went by the outdoor reception which was in full swing with lots of
great food and adult beverages available. I got Cindy’s attention and Chester informed her of the refill
request. I told him not to get his hopes up, but we do go through Sedona when we leave here on
Thursday, so maybe……
At the room, I started looking for my key card, and realized I didn’t have it. Bummer, but no problem,
just go down to the desk and get another one. Bob Farrow was witness to this laps of memory about
having the card in your pocket before you leave the room. Chester and I got a new key for the room and
I only had to show my photo ID, Birth Certificate, CCP, three credit cards in my name and have Chester
vouch for me that I was who I said I was. I think they took Chester’s word over all the other stuff. I got
the new key, Chester winked at the girl behind the counter and off we went.
Arriving back at the room, I found Kristy busy making copies of the AIA sign-in sheets for the next day’s
presentations. Chester immediately bounded into the room and snuggled right up to her for some good
scratching. Kristy and he are best buddies now and she gives him all the attention he wants and he
wants a lot of attention. This time we made sure Chester was visible at the door as Kristy left with her
usual, affectionate “Goodbye, Sweetie”. If dogs can blush, I think he did.
The thought occurred to me that we do a lot of work with a printer/copier at each of these programs so
it makes better economic sense to buy a printer at the symposium for use during the event. Beats
paying the enormously expensive charges from the hotel business center for printing and copying
services. When the program is over, we can give the printer to a worthy member who is driving to the
conference and still be ahead. Not this time, this one is going in the BAM.
Enough for now, got to be up early in the morning for the Freightliner checkout.
Good night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/17/2016 Tuesday
Guess what; yep, you guessed; Freightliner already has a backlog this morning so no joy there. Good
thing I called before going over there and then finding out it was a wasted trip.
Chester got his morning walk completed in record time this morning. Seems there are more strange
noises and unexpected movements than he wanted to deal with on this outing. Of course, he wanted
to stop by the Conference room to suck up a little loving from the ladies, so that is where we went when
he finished his business. Could it be that the Furball actually planned it to get his business done quickly
in order to visit the ladies. At this point, I wouldn’t put it past him.
Doug showed up dragging his Little Mamma and camera equipment. He is truly remarkable in his
dedication to taking some great pictures during the conference and documenting the great experience
we have as a small organization with a wonderful close knit family atmosphere. I hope to post some of
his photo’s in the journal when he has a chance to do his editing.
(Reminders:
BAM water pump installed is still working fine.
Installed the new standard 20a breaker
Checked tire pressure
Evaluated solution to engine heating
Attended luncheon for regional directors
Doug’s Little Mamma got fined
Big reception at Rawhide
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/18/2016 Wednesday
Rain fell during the night, either that or they faked it to make all the tourist think in rains in Tempe, AZ.
Most of the evidence of the rain was the spots in the dust covering the car. Chester even noticed the
moisture on the ground in his favorite, for now, toilet spot. It didn’t seem to bother him; it was business
as usual.
The morning duties done, we returned to the hotel by way of the conference center where Chester
received his usual dose of loving from all the ladies he met. This dog thinks he has died and gone to
heaven with all the attention being showered upon him. Even members of the hotel staff greeted him
warmly by name. They didn’t know my name, right there on my nametag, but they knew Chester.
We ran into Doug on the way to his post at the front desk in the symposium. He said he had completed
all the group photos and was going to edit them for the photo journal of the symposium. Since I missed
the Army group photo, looks like Photoshop will be the only way to include me in that one.
After dropping off the canine Casanova at the room, I borrowed the van from John and headed out to
finish the modifications to the BAM for air-conditioning the engine compartment. First stop was at
Camping World for some new tire pressure monitor sending units to replace a couple that don’t work.
Those things are expensive at $45 each. Anything with RV or Boat associated with it is automatically
more expensive. Because I spent a sizeable amount of money, the clerk tossed a bunch of scratch-off
tickets in the back and told me I could win a free nights camping, a travel trailer or a new motorhome.
Yeah, right!! Like I am going to waste my time scratching off stuff from a card to see if I won something.
After scratching off 5 cards I had won a free nights camping, instant winner! So, I got busy on the rest of
the cards in search of the trailer and motorhome. Out of the 20 or so cards, I won 5 free nights camping
but no sign of a motorhome. That is when I read the directions; always the last resort. I have to go
online to the Camping World website, enter the numbers on the card and hope the bells and whistles go
off that mean I won. Yeah, like I am going to waste my time doing that. Besides, I don’t have my
computer with me. Maybe tomorrow.
Next stop, Home Depot for ductwork. The AC outlet is 3 ¾ inches in diameter; all the flexible duct is 4
inches in diameter. Okay, no problem, just split it a little bit and put a clamp on it to pull it down to the
right size. Easier said than done. I spent the next couple of hours under the BAM trying to get that
#$@@#* duct to squeeze down tight. Remember where we are; Tempe, AZ. What do they have lots of
here – dust. Where does it collect—on the underside of the BAM – in abundance. Wrestling around
under there with the duct caused a minor private dust storm that filled my nose, hair, eyes and ears with
the fine powdery stuff. Finally, I got the duct secured to the AC and aimed at the engine compartment
directly above it. Hopefully, this will put enough cool air into the radiator that the overheating problem
will be ended.
Today being the final day of the symposium, we had the Corporate Member Advisory Council meeting
and dinner. Lots of discussion and very positive feedback from this group. The discussion ended just in
time for us to board the bus for The Keg and dinner. More great food; expanding waistline, bulging shirt
type food. I am sure it’s the dry heat that is shrinking my clothes. Prime rib with all the trimmings and
some horseradish that could power a nuclear submarine for a year. Cleared my sinuses on the first bite.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
After that, I could blow fire out of all the opening in my body. This is perfect for welding steel beams
together.
This is the last night in the hotel so I packed up all the stuff I didn’t need for the morning routine so it
would be ready to go back to the BAM early. Chester must have sensed that we were moving out of the
hotel and he has become attached to this place. He didn’t want to go out the front door to take his
nightly biological maintenance visit to the grassy area. I had to frog march him out the door. When his
business was done, he was pulling at the leash as we headed back in. Strange behavior for him. Oh
well, no night stalker butterflies to worry about, or could it be….
Good night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/19/2016 Thursday
Early morning and it is time to take a load of stuff to the BAM. I loaded up all the stuff I had packed the
night before, dragged Chester out to the van and went to the Apache Palms RV Resort. Chester was not
a happy camper about this. He wanted to stay and continue his “rock star” life at the hotel. Not a
chance, buster, you are going with me.
Che’ and Terrie Miranda volunteered to help haul the McClain household from the hotel to the BAM
with his truck. We loaded everything in and filled up the back of the truck with suitcases, Big Mamma
and an assortment of bags. Doug, Little Mamma and Sue got in the van with me for the trip to the BAM.
Chester was waiting for us when we arrived and proceeded to show off for Terrie and Aunt Sue. Furball.
After unloading the truck, Che’ and Terrie went back to the hotel with me to return the van to John and
Cindy Baldwin, then returned me to BAM. We said our goodbyes and got the BAM ready to travel. Now
the fun starts, how to get this 65’ rig out of the place in one piece. Remember the name of this place,
Apache Palms, well, there are exactly 2 palms and they are squarely placed either side of the road
directly in front of the BAM. If only I
hadn’t left my chainsaw at home. This
wouldn’t be a problem. Only thing left to
do is back out the way we came in.
Fortunately, the nice neighbor across
from us in the campground came out to
act as a ground guide while I
demonstrated superb navigational skill in
maneuvering the Dog House out
backwards without hitting anything.
Thanks to the neighbor who waved
franticly if I got too close to something.
Moving out for Sedona and Flagstaff on
this leg of the journey felt good. We were ready for the day’s challenges.
Well, they started a little earlier than usual. Before we cleared Phoenix on I-17 there was a very loud
bang from the rear of the BAM but nothing seemed to change. It sounded like a tire blowing out, but I
didn’t feel any changes in the way the BAM handled and the tire pressure monitor remained silent so we
assumed it was not us. Maybe one of the big trucks alongside had experienced a blowout. We rolled on.
The road to Sedona is picturesque and Doug was busy with his camera taking pictures out the front
window of the BAM. BAM’s modified cooling system was not as effective as I had hoped, but it helped
and BAM didn’t complain too much about the long uphill grades. It made the engine RPM management
a little easier.
We arrived in Sedona and traveled through the historic town with no problems. Pulled into a gas station
on the northern side of Sedona to fill up before heading up Rt 89 to Flagstaff. Because this was a gas
station, not a truck stop, we had to use the pump normally used for cars and they are very slow
compared to the truck stop pumps. Took almost half an hour to put in 99 gallons of diesel fuel. The site
of this big rig always prompts questions and there were at least 4 people who asked about it. Have to
make up a flyer to handout; too much time spent explaining things.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
When we left the gas station, we headed up into the
mountains on Rt. 89. This would be the real test of the
cooling system on the BAM. The road is filled with
hairpin turns climbing up to over 7,000 feet. No
problem, just put it 1st gear and crawl up the
mountain. BAM did great, never got above 212
degrees. Sue gets hotter than that. Sorry, that was
supposed to be an inside voice.
Doug took some great pictures during this part of the
trip and I will add them to the dialogue when he has
finished his meticulous editing.
We arrived in Flagstaff at around 3:30 and the GPS was programmed to take us to the KOA just outside
Flagstaff except for one thing, when it said turn right we were looking at the entrance to the KOA on the
left. So, we missed the turn into the KOA and had to go on down the road to find a place for a turn
around. Pulled into a truck stop with a large parking area and happened to spot the air station near the
back of the lot. I thought it might be a good idea to bring that tire with the replaced valve stem up to
the right pressure so we made a big circle and stopped next to the air station.
Then the fun began. I tried to get the tire to take air but it just wouldn’t inflate. I could hear the air
blowing out as I tried to get the valve stem to seat. No luck, slowly drove to the KOA where we could
park in the site and have Good Sam Road Service send out a truck to repair the valve stem. No problem.
Well, maybe a little problem. When the man arrived to fix the valve stem he removed the 2 right rear
wheels to get to the inside tire which was the one with the valve stem issue. It also had a bigger issue in
the form of a rip down the sidewall, that was more than a foot long. Remember the big bang we heard
earlier; it was us and we had traveled all the way to Flagstaff on that single outside tire. We were very
lucky it didn’t give up on us. Especially climbing the mountain on 89.
The tire was replaced with a new one, service completed and $950 later we were like new again. That is
more than I can say for this KOA. Has to be the worst one I have ever experienced. Very narrow roads
and sites so close together that the slide out on the living room side was over the grill on the site next to
us. Our site was very narrow and almost exactly 65’ long. Note to self, never stop at this KOA again.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/20/2016 Friday
Glad to be getting out of this KOA and heading for Monument Valley and Gouldings Campground just
across the state line into Utah. Chester is terrified by the wind blowing so hard through the trees and
the windmill power generators located very near the BAM. Chester completed his morning duties very
quickly and headed back to the BAM in a hurry. We had only one more challenge to overcome this
morning---getting the BAM/Dog House out of the narrow site. Displaying amazing skill behind the wheel
and a lot of luck, the BAM and Dog House made it out of the site, down the long winding, narrow road to
the highway without taking any damage. What a driver; we won’t talk about the big rock guarding the
entry to the site I hit going into the site last evening.
Doug assumed his position with camera pointed out the front windshield, Sue assumed her position
behind Doug in the recliner to continue her non-stop communication by iPad with who knows. Chester
assumed his crash position wedged tightly between the wall and my driver’s seat, head securely down
between front paws, and we were rolling again.
The road to Monument Valley passes through some magnificent vistas of high country flat lands. Doug
continued a non-stop clicking of every photo opportunity and never once did his very poor imitation of
Papa Smurf. BAM behaved with a little engine RPM management and we completed the journey to
Goulding’s Campground without any opportunities to excel. Check in and access to the site 22 was no
problem. The big rig fit, but it was very close to the roads in front and back of the BAM/Dog House.
Hookups went well, dumped holding tanks for both BAM and Dog House, hooked up sewer for BAM to
be able to use it full time. Did I mention the limited holding tank capacity of the BAM, only holds 100
gallons of grey water so it definitely needed to be hooked up to the sewer with the valve open?
Wind was very strong on the trip up here and now at an elevation over 5,200 feet, we have very strong
winds blowing through the campground.
No drone flights possible with this wind.
Chester wasn’t too happy about the wind,
either. Exiting the BAM was a very slow,
cautious process to be sure the
surroundings were safe; no rabid butterflies
could stand up to this wind. These are pictures of
the surrounding scenery at the campground. The
only problem with our site is the tree that has
limbs constantly banging on the roof of the BAM
as the wind whistles through here. The altitude
certainly shows up when walking the dog. Not
much exercise cause a lot of panting and puffing.
Not Doug; Sue and me.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
Sue did their laundry and was completely exhausted when she finished. My short walk with Chester had
me puffing when we got back. Doug is smart enough to crank up Big Mamma to a higher level and he
stayed comfortable while Sue and I struggled to breathe. Something is not right about this picture; he’s
the patient but we are the ones gasping for air. We may gang up on him and take a few whiffs of Big
Mamma’s output.
The wind was blowing so hard, it was impossible to cook outside, so we decided to have the Tony Roma
baby back ribs ala microwave. Another great meal and Chester got his share. Looking forward to
tomorrow’s 2 ½ hour tour of Monument Valley leaving from here at 1:15. Should be a great tour if the
wind doesn’t ruin it for us.
Bedtime and I am pooped. Chester is already out like a light.
Good Night!
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/21/2016 Saturday
Up at 7:00 AM and Chester is ready for a walk. Wind not blowing too hard now but still more than a
gentle breeze. Chester hurried through his morning business and dragged me back to the BAM.
Doug and Sue were having breakfast when we arrived at the BAM. All had gone well for them last night;
no major or minor problems. Well one small one, air in the water. That was caused by the pump
emptying all the water out of the fresh water tank and was now using only incoming water which
couldn’t keep up with the pump’s demand. Shut off the pump, refilled fresh water tank, problem
solved.
Sis is still showing symptoms of altitude sickness
and decided to cancel her trip this afternoon.
Doug and I will go, as planned. When it came
time for the tour vehicle to pick us up, the driver
came around to the BAM so we could get Doug
into the front seat with Little Mamma in the floor.
Doug made it to the truck but it really took a lot
out of him because of the climb to get up in the
cab of the truck. He plugged in Little Mamma so
he could save the battery in case it was needed.
This was the highlight of the trip in so far as
sightseeing. Doug took over 150 pictures during
the 2 ½ hour tour through some awesome
natural formations. I will add some to the
Journal when he has done his editing.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
Doug had a great trip, but those of us in the cheap seats in the back of the truck were subjected to 40
mile and hour winds and endless dust. They need to consider building a road to replace the track we
traveled during the tour. This is a Native Park, not a National Park, so hard to say who has the
responsibility for roads. Bottom line, the trail we followed was so rough, I think I may have loosened a
tooth and my kidneys are definitely in different places than before this trip.
When we returned around 4:00 PM, the driver brought us to the BAM where he had picked us up and
Doug made his way to the BAM with only a little help from us. He was pooped when he got inside but
recovered quickly. Sue, on the other hand, was having a rough time with the altitude sickness. Just
couldn’t get up any energy and tummy not feeling well. Hope she feels better in the morning.
Dinner was steak and bacon wrapped shrimp cooked outside over a charcoal fire. With the wind
blowing it was hard to keep the food from becoming burnt on the outside a raw on the inside. Not my
best culinary effort, but given the circumstances, Chester viewed it as a complete masterpiece. Sis fed
him almost all of her steak because her tummy was not up to anything that rich.
One last note before going to bed. Doug has demonstrated what determination can do in the face of
enormous odds. He should be an inspiration to those others who are faced with the same uncertain
future. He has chosen to live life to the fullest and is doing an amazing job of carrying on life as near
normal as possible. I am blessed to be a small part of this amazing journey.
Good Night!
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/22/2016 Sunday
Wow, we set a record today! When I dropped in on the occupants of the BAM first thing this morning,
nothing needed fixing. That is a first for us. I was so happy, I wanted to break something just so I could
fix it.
Chester and I made the morning rounds and something strange was going on. It took a few minutes but
then I realized what it was; no wind! Chester was even more vigilant than ever for rabid butterflies
because he knew they can sneak up on you when the wind isn’t blowing 20 MPH. Butterflies don’t do
well in high winds, but neither does Chester. The world is a scary place.
I have been waiting for this opportunity for days to fly the drone. After consulting with the manager, he
was happy to have me fly the drone and give him some pictures he could use on the website. No
problem, really, no problem. I sent the drone up and took several still shots of the surrounding terrain
and one of the campground from an altitude of 400 feet.
After taking the pictures and showing the Japanese tourist in the camper next to us how it worked, I
brought the drone back in for a landing with the video on. (I forgot to turn it on when it lifted off) They
were appropriately impressed. Transferred the pictures to a memory stick and delivered it to the
campground office.
Sis is still suffering from her problem with the altitude and other complications that prevent her from
getting more than 30 feet from the toilet. She did the research on line to find a cure and settled on the
Mayo Clinic recommendations for things to take, drink and eat; none of which we had. The first quest of
the day! Find the following: apple juice, saltines, chicken noodle soup, Gatorade, Imodium AD, milk (for
Doug) and an energy drink for me. First stop at the Goulding’s Grocery got the apple juice, Gatorade
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
and chicken noodle soup. No saltines, but I did find some very tasty waffle snack crackers. No Imodium,
but the shelves were loaded with laxatives. No energy drink, because I forgot to look. At the checkout
counter, the computer froze up and they didn’t know how to defrost it so I rummaged around and found
the correct change, left it with the clerk and scampered back to the BAM with my purchases. Off we
went to the next stop, about 120 miles away. Hope the lack of Imodium is not going to become a
significant factor in how many times we have to stop.
Sis had rerouted us by way of a more northerly route that turned out to be very scenic and Doug had a
fine time taking a few hundred more pictures. His documentary of the trip is going to be spectacular.
For a guy who was supposed to be dead 9 months ago, he is doing great. Chester didn’t see much of the
trip because his travel position between the wall and
my driver’s seat has a terrible view.
Well into the trip and just before getting into New
Mexico, we stopped at a Trading Post that had a large
parking area. I went in and came out a winner! Found
the Imodium and an energy drink. Forgot to look for
the saltines. Two out of three isn’t bad.
After traveling for a couple of hours more through
some spectacular country, we finally arrived at the
Homestead RV Camp in Kirtland, NM. Easy to find,
right downtown, and barren of any vegetation. Facetiously, I asked for a site with some shade. I was
told a pot plant would be delivered to our site for an extra $10. I declined.
Set up was easy as everything was leveled without any major effort. Sis was feeling better now that she
had been soaking up the electrolytes and chugging Imodium. Still a little delicate on the tummy but
gaining strength.
When dinner time rolled around, I was outside when the unmistakable aroma of KFC came wafting
across the campground. It was right next door. Must have been a diabolical plot to entice campers to
walk over and gorge on unidentifiable chicken parts cooked using the Colonel’s secret recipe. Sis
sampled a chicken pot pie and declined to endanger the progress she has made toward full recovery by
over doing it tonight. Chester was enormously grateful as he received more than his portion of the pie.
He has impeccable manners when eating from a fork so long as someone is holding it for him. He as a
terrible time with a fork; no thumbs, you know. He said “Thank You” and “Please” several time as Aunt
Sue fed him.
Settled in for the night so time for bed.
Good Night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
Hi, my name is Chester. I have been waiting patiently for Dad to let me
have a go at the Journal thing and he finally said okay, but keep it clean.
What else would I do, it’s not like I am some kind of playboy, well maybe
just a bit of a “chic magnet”, but it is not my fault. I can’t help if I am so
good looking. But, I am getting ahead of myself.
This all started a long time ago when Dad got me from the Richmond
Animal League about a year ago this month. Dad took me to a state park
near Richmond where I was introduced to something I’ve never see
before; he called it the BAM. It is a whole fricking house on wheels; the
sides go in and out; TV’s pop up from behind the sofa; all kinds of noises
come from everywhere; lights flash on the dash; a giant lives in the back
of this thing and roars a lot when Dad pushes on a pedal in the floor and
this thing stats moving. I don’t like noises and things that move unexpectedly, but after a year of
frequent trips in the BAM I have learned that most of the things that go on in the BAM are normal and
won’t hurt me. Still not too sure about that giant that lives under the bed in the back of this thing.
A few months ago, Dad, Ron and Ellie (good friends of Dad’s with a cute little dog named Ginger) were
talking to Aunt Sue and Uncle Doug on something called Facetime. They seemed excited that Uncle
Doug was doing very well now after having been very sick for a long time. They talked about the
possibility that Dad could take them with him to a symposium at a hotel in Tempe, AZ. That sounded
like another road trip to me so I tuned out. My mistake; this turned out to be anything but just another
road trip.
Several months of planning and many conversations about what to take, where to go, where to stay,
what sights to see; it all sounded too complicated for me. Finally, one day early this month, Dad loaded
my bed, water bowl and dog food into the BAM and said we were leaving on a trip that would last for a
long time. I hope he didn’t mean a long time in dog years because that is 7 times longer than people
years.
Dad bought a travel trailer to tow behind the BAM, which I thought was strange, there is plenty of room
in the BAM for just the two of us. Later, I found out why he did that. He is smarter than I thought.
With the trailer (Dad calls it the Dog House) in tow, the giant roared and we were off on an adventure
like no other. For the first few days, it was just the two of us. We stopped at some really cool
campgrounds and some not so cool along the way. Dad did a pretty good job of telling the story but he
missed the part I saw. Remember, dogs have a very, very keen sense of smell so my experience was a
little different. For instance, the places we stopped had been visited by thousands of other people and
animals who left traces of their passing and each scent was a story unto itself. Dad gets impatient when I
find some particularly fascinating scent and want to spend a lot of time enjoying the olfactory
sensations it creates. Most of the scent stories were normal dog/people activity, but a few were strange
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
and required greater study to understand. Wish I could tell you all about it, but that is for another day.
The one about the poodle is a dandy.
Every time we stopped, Dad took me out for a walk. That is fine, but those rabid butterflies are
everywhere and they are sneaky. I have to keep an eye out for them every second. One bite from a
rabid butterfly and you are a goner. Not going to happen to me, no sir, I am faster than greased
lightning so they will never catch me. Dad is a little slow to respond to the threat so I sometimes have to
jerk his arm out of joint to avoid being attacked.
We arrived in Austin, TX, and stayed in a nice campground with a large fenced in doggie play area but I
never saw another dog there the whole time we were there. Dad took me there every morning and
evening. There were three tall flag poles on the way to the doggie playground and those flags really
scared me. They sound just like the wings of giant rabid butterflies and this being Texas, who knows,
maybe they have giant rabid butterflies. I am not taking any chances so I make Dad take me on a wide
path around those things.
Aunt Sue and Uncle Doug came to visit soon after we arrived at the campground and I got to meet them
for the first time. Very nice people, well at least Aunt Sue is. Not so sure about Uncle Doug; looks like
the type that might eat everything on his plate and forget the dog is there. Other than that, he’s a good
guy. Kind of reminds me of Darth Vader with the breathing thing, but Dad says that is a good thing.
Guess it is better than the alternative.
Over the next couple of days, they visited the BAM with loads of stuff they stored in the BAM. Dad and I
had already moved our stuff into the Dog House. Plenty of room in the BAM for their stuff.
Finally, we went to their house to get them and the few remaining items they wanted to take with them.
Funny, I always thought kitchen sinks were a part of the house and was supposed to stay behind. Just
kidding. Holy Dog Biscuits! They had more stuff there than they brought over. It all fit in, but I bet the
giant that lives under the bed is not going to like this. As it turns out, he complained a lot about how hot
it was under there and he didn’t like not having a lot of air blowing over his radiator, whatever that is.
Dad seemed to understand him, pushed some buttons and he roared louder but we went slower. Dad
called it RPM management. Okay, I don’t have a clue what that means but if it keeps the giant happy, I
am all for it.
Over the next few days, Aunt Sue and Uncle Doug learned the do’s and don’ts of “glamping”. A term
Aunt Suzy invented for our version of camping. There is a lot to remember before moving the BAM and
it is sort of second nature to Dad. I just take up my travel position between the wall and Dad’s seat and
wait for the next stop. We travel well together, Uncle Doug in the copilot seat with his camera always at
the ready. Aunt Sue in the seat behind him with her iPad. Aunt Sue and the giant under the bed have a
lot in common when it comes to heat. Don’t know which one complains more.
I am getting used to traveling in the BAM, but “things happen” as Dad says. Dad seems to enjoy the
challenge and fixes most things that need fixing. I am probably lucky I don’t have thumbs or he would
have me helping him. He keeps telling me that is why I can’t drive; I don’t have thumbs. What’s a
thumb?
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
After several days on the road, we finally arrived in Tempe, AZ. Dad says we are going to stay at the
hotel during the symposium. What’s a symposium? Don’t think I have ever eaten one of those, but
sounds good.
We got moved into a room on the third floor. Had to ride the elevator and that was no problem for me.
Seemed like the natural thing to do when the doors opened, go in, when they opened again, go out.
Simple. The room was nice and Dad had my bed and water bowl so I was moved in. Aunt Cindy and
Uncle John came to get us at the campsite and moved us to the hotel. I remember visiting them in
Florida and I sure hope Uncle John cooks some more steaks the way he did down there.
I love living in the hotel! All the ladies are so nice to me and I get a lot of attention every time we go
out. Aunt Kristy even comes to the room to use the printer when Dad is out and she really does a good
job scratching ears.
Dad takes me out every morning and evening for my biological maintenance needs. There is a small,
grassy area across the street on the side of the hotel where I can do my business but there are too many
noises and distractions in the city. All that activity makes it easy for rabid butterflies to sneak up on you
so I have to be extra vigilant. I know they are out there, just waiting for the right moment to attack.
Another great thing about living in the hotel is the food! I have had some great things to eat and all the
ladies save something for me at every meal. Uncle Doug eats all his food. I had him pegged from the
beginning. Aunt Sue makes up for it by giving me her leftovers.
I didn’t know what Room Service was, but Dad picked up the phone and talked to someone a few
minutes and half an hour later a nice lady brought a tray in with a lot of food on it. Dad signed a piece of
paper and the nice lady left. The tray had a fish sandwich on it that smelled heavenly. Dad ate half of it
and I got the other half. Wonderful stuff! If I could just figure out how to use the phone without
thumbs, bet I could order room service anytime I wanted it.
All good things must come to an end and so we moved back to the BAM to continue the adventure. Aunt
Terrie and Uncle Che’ helped move all the stuff from the hotel to the BAM with their truck. I really
like Aunt Terrie, she is almost as good at ear scratching as Aunt Kristy.
It is now a few days after leaving the hotel and I still have a nice stash of ribeye steak scraps in the
refrigerator. Dad gives me some of it every day but I think this is the last of it tonight. Dad went to KFC
for chicken tonight and I got some of his chicken, some of Aunt Sue’s chicken pot pie, and Uncle Doug
ate all of his.
Guess that about sums it up for now. Dad says I need to get off the computer so he can get some sleep.
Maybe I will get to add a comment or two later. We still have a lot of adventures ahead of us.
As Dad says, “Good Night”
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/23/2016 Monday
Today we travel to Taos, NM, for some scenic mountain views along the way. We got off to an early
start and made good time getting to the mountains. The BAM was behaving itself, Sis still felt lousy,
Doug was raring to go, camera in hand. Chester was tucked into his usual travel position by my seat.
The scenery changed dramatically as we began the slow crawl up the winding road to the top of the
mountain range. We peaked out at 10,508 feet. If the BAM were equipped like an airliner, the oxygen
masks would have dropped down from the ceiling. This being the first time Doug had been to this
altitude with his Big Mamma, we stopped and retrieved the emergency oxygen bottle just in case Big
Mamma couldn’t handle the pressure. She complained about it all the way but never failed. Doug did
just fine. Sue and I nearly died from oxygen starvation, but Doug did just fine. Even Chester was panting
in the thin air.
The trip down the mountain was wonderful. Doug took so many pictures I thought we might have to
pour a bucket of water over the camera to cool it off. Doug frowned on that idea. After editing the
collection, Doug produced a slide show that was magnificent! He is a very talented photo journalist.
When we got into Taos we were in need of diesel fuel so we decided to go to a service station before
going to the campground. Pulled into a Conoco Stop-and-Rob to fill up at an incredible $2.089/gal.
Immediately, we attracted attention from the folks in the station. The clerk said he had never had
anything that big pull in for fuel and wanted to know how I did it. I told him, “Very carefully”. The
pumps were slow compared to truck stop pumps so it took 30 minutes to fill the tank with 130 gallons of
diesel fuel.
After fueling, we headed back to the campground and checked in. Nice place with full length pull-thru
site next to the pavilion. Not much shade except for the bushes planted all around. Guess that counts if
you are rabbit.
Sis is still not feeling well so I cooked some burgers and
shrimp on the grill in the pavilion. Sis had a cup of rice.
Chester had steak left over from the Rawhide outing.
He probably eats better than a lot of people. Furball!
The wind finally died down enough to send up the
drone for a few pictures. Here are a couple of the
campground.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
It has been a long day so time to say Good Night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/24/2016 Tuesday
Destination, Santa Rosa, NM.
We got up early and for the second day in a row, nothing needed fixing. I am beginning to feel not
needed. Chester looked up at me as though to say, “Somebody has to pick up after me.”
Sue was feeling better, even ate a little breakfast. We discussed out travel plans for the stay in Amarillo
and a visit to the Palo Duro Canyon. A few calls and I had arranged for an SUV from Enterprise for our
stay in Amarillo. Since we had experienced the joys of taking a tour in Monument Valley, we thought it
best to do it on our own with a rent-a-car for $68 rather than pay $60 a piece for a commercial tour.
We left Taos for Santa Rosa on a path that took us up and over another mountain, but not so high this
time. We only reached around 8,800 feet and Big Mamma complained but did her job. I have to give
the BAM credit for not complaining about the climb because I used the low gears to keep the RPM’s up.
The giant that lives under the bed in back was happy with that.
On the way out of Taos, we stopped at a Walmart for a few supplies. As soon as Sue and I stepped out
of the BAM, a man from another RV in the lot came up and wanted to know if it was alright for him to
take pictures of the BAM/Dog House combination. Again, he had never seen anything like it. For the
umpteenth time we explained how it came to be that we had such a unique combination of RV’s.
Everyone is amazed that Doug would undertake such a journey after having been given a dire prognosis
9 months ago. They don’t know him very well, do they?
The trip through the mountain roads was splendid. Beautiful vistas before us and off to the side as we
rounded curves on the way up the mountain and coming down the other side. Doug’s camera must be
overheated by now. He spent the afternoon after we arrived at the RV park in Santa Rosa editing the
photos. After dinner, we were treated to another spectacular slide show of some of the most beautiful
scenery in the country. I saw it as we passed through it, but Doug brought out the details I missed along
the way. He has an uncanny ability to compose just the right balance in each picture.
Sis began to feel a little peaked this afternoon, so she may have overdone it a bit this morning with the
breakfast and shopping. Hopefully, she will be feeling better tomorrow. We have a great deal of
sightseeing to do in Amarillo and Palo Duro Canyon, not to mention some fantastic places to eat.
Time for bed.
Good Night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/25/2016 Wednesday
The trip to Amarillo took us over more level (read FLAT) country and high speed roads. The BAM did
fine; Big Mamma and Doug enjoyed getting down to a little more oxygen in the air; Sue and I were just
happy to be alive. Chester enjoyed his usual spot for the trip and I think he actually went to sleep
because I heard him snoring.
Arriving at the Amarillo RV Ranch brought back some fond memories of the time Dee and I stopped here
on our Bucket List Trip in 2012. Same old truck loaded down with all the belongings of a dustbowl,
depression era traveler sat at the office for all to see. Far cry from today’s behemoths.
Our site was located right next to the entrance so we heard everything that came in or left. But the site
was nice enough with full hookups.
After we got settled in, I called Enterprise for a pickup to get the rental car. They arrived about 15
minutes later, took me to their place and swiped my credit card. I may own part interest in Enterprise
with that swipe. I was assured that only the amount of the actual charges would be run against the card
unless I stole the car. Very funny agent.
I did notice something peculiar about the agents in the office; I counted 6 and it was a mixed bag of
races, but one thing stood out; they all had shaved heads and full beards. Really weird, made me
wonder if they had lost a bet or something.
Sue and Doug got settled in the BAM while I was gone and we decided to have a “clean out the leftovers” dinner. Sue was getting better but still not 100% so Doug and I shared the left-over steak and
some broccoli in cheese sauce with a glass of wine. Chester got his share and was a happy camper
again.
That is, until I took him out for his evening stroll in a 35 mile an hour wind. Chester does not do wind!
Trees moving, things blowing around on the ground, rabid butterflies hiding in the grass and bushes just
waiting for him to be off guard. His business was done in record time and he was in the lead going back
to the BAM.
Everyone settled in for the night with wonderful dreams of visiting Palo Duro Canyon tomorrow.
Good Night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/26/2016 Thursday
Thank goodness we had calm winds this morning. Chester hesitated at the door to be sure the sneaky
rabid butterflies were nowhere to be found. Once outside, he maintained his usual high state of alert,
because you just never know. Some of those big birds flying around could be accomplices of the
butterflies and attack. All went without incident and when he returned to the BAM to greet Sue and
Doug he was much relieved to finally be inside and safe.
We set out on a self-guided tour of the Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which was only about 27 miles
away and took less than 40 minutes to reach. Sue paid the $10 entrance fee, the ranger gave us a map
and a receipt and told us to send up a signal flare if we got lost. No problem, you can’t get lost in a
canyon with only one way in and one way out. Besides, Darth Vader in the back seat had a photo record
of every rock, tree, bush and flower for the entire length of the canyon before we were through.
It truly was some of the most spectacular scenery we have seen along the way. Rock formations
showing the effects of erosion over millions of years were abundant. Taking pictures from the backseat,
Doug was happily clicking away when Little Mamma started fussing at him. He holds his breath when he
is about to snap a picture and that upsets Little Mamma. But all was good, no smurf imitations today.
It was a magnificent trip through the canyon and Doug spent the rest of the afternoon editing the
thousand or so pictures he took to produce another masterpiece slide show.
Doug will be making the show available sometime soon.
When we returned to the BAM, our plans to go out to the Big Texan Steak Ranch gave way to having a
pizza from Pizza Hut when we were all too tired to make the effort and not hungry enough to enjoy a
steak. Chester disagreed, but was overruled. To make up for it, Sue shared the chicken nuggets she
saved for him from her lunch. She is now known as Suzy McNugget to Chester. He did everything but
back flips for her. Furball!
Melinda Marble, Communications Coordinator of the Austin Hospice, requested a photo of the 4 of us
for use on their website, so Doug setup his camera on a tripod and we all sat in front of it while it
counted down 10 seconds delay before snapping the picture. A little light on the front of the camera
flashes each second to the snap of the picture. Notice in the picture below how carefully Chester is
focused on the camera. The little light made all the difference in the world in keeping him looking at the
camera. I think he is becoming somewhat of a ham.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
With the pizza history, the furball properly walked for his evening duties, it is now bedtime.
Good Night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/27/2016 Friday
Up early, Enterprise opens at 7:30 and I wanted to get the car back early so we could hit the road at
about our normal time. I was there when the doors opened and got the car turned it with half a tank of
gas. I was going to fill it up but there was one little problem, I couldn’t find the tank cover release. I
know there is a diabolical scheme afoot to deliberately hide the button that allows access to the fill cap
on the gas tank. That way people have to pay the fueling charge when they bring the car back. Clever,
these devious minds think of all kinds of ways to run up your bill.
I got back to the BAM around 8:15, courtesy of the driver from Enterprise. I wasn’t sure I would make it
because 2 of the bearded guys with the shaved heads piled into the back seat and rode out to the
campground with us. I could just see the ransom note now, “Please take him back, we will pay
anything.”
Traveling to Abilene, TX, was a bit of a letdown for Doug after all the spectacular scenery he spent
shooting yesterday. Still, he did find a few old buildings along the way that deserved his attention.
It was an uneventful trip with one minor exception. We were looking for a nice big parking lot like those
found at most churches as a place to stop for lunch. Have you ever pulled into what you thought was a
driveway that went all the way around a church only to find that it only goes half way? That isn’t
normally a problem, but when you are driving a 65’ rig, turning around can be a bit of a challenge. Once
again, demonstrating stupendous skill in maneuvering the big rig, I deftly backed the trailer into the only
small drive leading off the parking lot and successfully got headed back out the way we came in. The
applause from the crowd was deafening, and calls for encore roared in my head. Then Doug and Sue
spoiled the glorious moment in my mind by asking if we were going to eat lunch now. Reality is a poor
substitute for the imagination. Chester just looked up at me as if to say “What!?”
Lunch over, we proceeded on through the small town and just as we were exiting on the far side, there
in front of us was a large picnic area specially designed to welcome big rigs. Sometimes you just get
slapped in the face with the great alternative to a lousy decision.
It was only another 48 miles to the KOA Abilene and we arrived about 2:00 PM. Our campsite, 68, is a
long pull-thru with full hookups and a nice grill right outside the front door to the BAM. Great place, but
overrun with mosquitoes. I wonder if they offer blood transfusions here to make up for what the
mosquitoes suck up.
I cooked hamburgers on the grill and fixed an appetizer of shrimp cocktail for our final night on the road.
We opened a nice bottle of 14 Hands Merlot and had a toast to the last night on the road for the 4 of us
together. Sue fed Chester bits of her hamburger and I gave him half a burger I cooked for him. After all,
he needed to celebrate with us. He has become attached to Sue and absolutely adores being loved by
her. Furball!
Tomorrow we head for the place where we departed so many days ago. If I am going to stay awake for
the drive, I better get some sleep. Sleeping behind the wheel is not a good thing!
Good Night.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
5/28/2016 Saturday
The final day of a journey like no other. The KOA-Abilene is home to a very thick cloud of mosquitoes
that make rabid butterflies seem like a relief. Taking Chester out for his morning ritual was like walking
into a giant pin cushion. Only these pins had wings. Needless to say, I urged Chester to complete his
business without delay and he seemed to understand. No dawdling around this morning.
Doug and Sue were up early, as usual, and they had done the packing last night in preparation for the
arrival at home. Do you think they are looking forward to getting home? Can’t blame them. The
normal trials and tribulations of traveling in a motorhome can be a little overwhelming to anyone and
with the special circumstances of this trip, I think they handled it very well.
We pulled out about 9:00 AM, as usual, and headed toward Austin. I had set the two GPS units for the
home address and they immediately had a disagreement. I really don’t need a GPS when I have a Doug
who knows these roads like the back of his hand. Doug was the deciding factor on which GPS to follow.
The BAM rolled along happily; Chester remained in his normal spot by the driver seat and Doug kept vigil
for anything to photograph. Sue sat in the seat behind Doug, fanning furiously because the outside
temperature had gotten up into the high 80’s and the AC couldn’t keep up. I think the giant that lives
under the bed in the back was laughing at her.
The trip was uneventful and we arrived at their home about 2:30, right on schedule. Sue made a mad
dash for the cool comfort of the house. She said it was to get the doors open for the move-in, but I
think she just wanted to get cool. Doug and Little Mamma were next off the BAM and into the house to
start organizing to receive the load that was coming next. Chester stayed in his hideaway and watched
as load after load exited the BAM and disappeared into the house. So long as his water bowl, bed and
food bowl stayed in the BAM, he wasn’t concerned.
We said our good byes with hugs and wet eyes. From 5/9 to 5/28, Doug, Sue, Chester and I made a
journey few believed possible. All the fun we had dealing with the little things that make motorhome
travel so interesting, will be the subject of countless conversation over the years to come. Doug’s
determination to do as much as he could to continue a normal life was both amazing and inspirational to
all who know him. His sense of humor about his condition, being called Papa Smurf, Darth Vader and a
few other politically incorrect titles, made the journey all the more fun for all of us. Chester’s
attachment to Sue and Doug also helped weld us together, even if Doug did eat everything on his plate.
Sue made up for it by sharing hers with him at every opportunity. Chester will always remember Suzy
McNuggets.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
It would be easy to end this journal with a long
diatribe full of soppy sentiment; but that would
be contrary to the purpose of the journal. I
started out to provide a light hearted, and
sometimes irreverent, point of view and that is
the way it will end. I am sitting here in a
Walmart parking lot with rain beating down on
the roof of the BAM at 4 AM writing this stupid
journal. I really need to get a life!
Good Night and I hope you have enjoyed going
on the trip with three old farts and a bi-polar
dog.
Travels of Three Old Farts and a Bi-polar Dog
Hey, I get the last word. Just wanted to add a few last minute
observations from my point of view, scary as that may be.
This has to be the most enjoyable, terrifying thing I have ever
done in my entire life. The journey from Richmond Animal
League a year ago to being part of this trip, meeting so many
nice people (and a few not so nice dogs) blows my mind.
What was he thinking, taking a bi-polar dog on a trip that was
sure to scare the #@$% out of me. But, you know what; I
found out that I can deal with a lot more stuff than I thought
possible, so long as Dad is around. I am still a little reluctant
to meet new people, but it Is easier now. I have met so many
wonderful people, mostly ladies, (I love the ladies!) who give
me lots of love and tell me what a good dog I am. Kristy even
called me “Sweetie”, which seemed to cause some degree of
concern on Dad’s part. Not sure why, guess it had to do with
being in the hotel at the time. Life goes on.
Aunt Sue and Uncle Doug have become a part of my family. I can crawl under the table, sit on Uncle
Doug’s oxygen tube, get under their feet while they try to fix dinner and never get fussed at for it. Uncle
Doug and I have something in common…a leash. Dad holds the end of my leash and Big Mamma holds
the end of his. Even if he does eat everything on his plate, I still like him a lot.
Dad says we are heading home to Virginia now and will be traveling through some rain. In fact, it is
raining now and I haven’t been out since lunch. I think I may have to get Dad’s attention and persuade
him that it would be a good idea to take me out now, before the traffic picks up around Walmart.
Besides, it is easier to avoid rabid butterflies in the rain; they can’t fly in the rain and they can’t run very
fast either.
This traveling thing in the BAM turned out to be a real treat for me, even if it was scary at times. Wait
until I see Winston, Suzy and Rob’s dog. He won’t believe the stories I have to tell. He is already jealous
of my big backyard, and these stories will blow his mind. Just think how much more fun it would have
been if I had thumbs.
Good Night,
Chester