Texas RV Trip - Days 4 & 5 - The Griswold's

We drove from Hot Springs, Ark. down to Nacogdoches, Tx. on day 4 and noticed we were losing power as we went up hills and sometimes pretty badly, so I was pretty sure we had a clogged fuel filter. Since I knew we could run this way ok, but at a lower speed, we limped on south and began calling RV places in Nacogdoches and found one right along our route who said bring it on in. Within an hour, we were fixed up and on our way to the campground called Paradise Lake. Forty years ago it may have lived up to its name, but by modern standards, it’s barely adequate and pretty well matches up to its sign.

Here’s a shot of it and the lake that has been reduced to a pond by the drought – but if you enlarge the third picture you can see the otter that was frolicking in it just before we pulled out – first one I’d ever seen in the wild and the day had started out very well.

We decided to go back up the road to a convenient truck stop and fill up with fuel and we heard a scrape as we pulled in thinking it was the tow dolly so I didn’t even bother to look. Bev commented she thought the RV may have also scrapped. We headed on down the road and about an hour and fifteen minutes later, the oil light came on and we pulled over, as I wanted to re-tighten the car on the dolly anyway.

The car, the dolly, and the rear of the coach were covered in oil which had apparently been coming out in a slow leak since the fuel stop. We put a jug under it to catch what we could and once again called CoachNet, but went on line to see what we could find ourselves. The guy we bought the RV from had installed a valve on the oil pan to make it easier to change the oil and our little scrape broke it. So far, two of the systems he installed for convenience have stranded us on the side of the road.

Back in August, Bev decided she had to buy an Ipad and after the tire issue, she subscribed to a months-worth of internet service via Verizon (I won’t leave home without it again). We were 8 miles north of Livingston, Tx and found a diesel shop that would come see if could fix us up – I'd had such high hopes for today.

Can you believe that after an hour, I called the guy back and he was still in the shop– said he got half way here and his vehicle had trouble so he had to go back. I’m now just hoping a semi doesn’t plow into us or we get struck by lightning out of the clear blue sky.

After trying some other places to negative responses, I called the guy back and siad I'd come get him if necessary, but one of his guys finally agreed to drive his personal car out and handle it.  The job took less than 30 minutes to put in a new plug and add the oil, but we were there for 3 1/2 hours.

So for the third day we had vehicle troubles and for the second time, we rolled into the campground well after dark, totally bushed, and frustrated - so we opened a bottle of wine (the good stuff) and sat on the patio until we were wound down enough to go to bed.  Things will have to be a lot better going back for the RV not to go on the market when we get home, assuming we do.  Does the name Griswold ring a bell?

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them. 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

One year ago:  Thanksgiving Preparation

Two years Ago: Good Deal On Strip Steak

Larry