The damage done by a coat hanger while trying to fish out a clog in the hose. |
The dryer pulled out so I can work on the washer. |
After trying to order a hose locally, which was impossible, I then got on-line and ordered it from an on-line parts store. Even though the web site said it was in-stock, come to find out, it was not, so I cancelled the order. I then got onto Sears website and ordered it there with two day shipping think that they would be more reputable and better to work with. Wrong, after ordering I get an email that it is on back order. I email them back and ask that they refund my shipping because I was not going to get it in two days. They did and told me that it would ship out the next week. The next week came, but my hose did not, so I cancelled that order too.
We were getting to the point of leaving El Paso and so had to put the washer and dryer back in to move, but I did not want to do so until it was fixed, since it is such a job. So I decided to just patch the hose with a plastic union and some clamps.
First I cut the hose through where the hole was.
Cut hose with PVC union. |
Second half of hose with clamps attached. |
The fixed hose, which is as good as new. |
The fixed drain hose back on the washer. |
After the New Year we made our way to New Braunsfels, TX and found a nice place to say in the Joint Base San Antonio Canyon Lake Recreational Park. The price to rent a lot for 30 days is the lowest we have ever paid anywhere, which was nice.
To rent a spot here you have to be either Active Duty, National Guard, Reservist, Retired, 100% DAV, or DoD. Also you can only rent for 30 days at a time during the months of Nov-Feb and must leave for 2 days after staying 30 days and then you can return for another 30 days.
During our trip from El Paso, TX to here we traveled on I10, which had some snow the day before and really high winds. I would say while on our 570 mile trek we saw at least 10 or 12 wrecks with half of them being tractor trailers. I would have taken some pictures, but did not want to become one of them.
Also either due to the high winds blowing gravel up on the road or the TX Department of Highways using gravel to treat the slippery roads, we obtained 2 chips on our Nissan van's windshield along with a good 8 inch crack and a chip on the RV's windshield. Luckily we have windshield insurance on the RV since that is going to be an expensive replacement. I think I will try to get the chips patched first before having the windshield replaced.
It was a beautiful drive down I10 which we did straight through. The Moon was hanging low in the sky and felt like it was watching over us as we trucked down the road.
Mr. Moon, Moon, bright and shiny Moon, won't you please shine down on me. |
The Moon at the Waxing gibbous phase at 98% visible. The next night would have been a full moon. |
There was a Class C RV parked a couple rows over from us that left shortly after I started the generator, which was around 3:00 AM. I hope we did not upset them running it, but we had no choice. Our generator really is not that loud anyway. There were actually 6 other RVs in the lot and most of them had their bedroom slides out too, which was nice because we like to put ours out so as to give everyone more room to sleep.
I guess I need to perform maintenance on the house batteries more often so that they do not go dry and die on me. I'm going to try and fill them back up with distilled water and equalize them to see if they still have any type of life, but I am afraid I'm going to have to buy six new ones, which is not cheap. I'm also going to buy a watering system for them so that it is easier for me to top them off every month so the fluid levels stays current.
One of my six house batteries in the RV. |
Now that we are settled for a while on Canyon Lake, I'm going to rest some and worry about fixing the batteries in a couple weeks. The park is really nice with a full concrete pad for the RV to sit on, which is always nicer than gravel or dirt.
There is also wildlife everywhere with the most abundant being deer, rabbits, and foxes. Some of the deer are so used to people they come right up to you. Below are some deer that welcomed us when we first parked the RV.
Deer coming up to the RV to check us out. |
One of the bravest does that will come up and sniff your hand. |
A very nice buck! |
Avery and Mom on his 6th birthday. |
Avery's slightly mangled 6th birthday cake. |
One place we ate while in New Braunsfels, Texas was Di's Homemade Pizza, which is some of the best pizza we have eaten. Sirianni's Cafe in Davis, WV is still our favorite pizza in the entire world, but Di's pizza is a very close second and satisfies our pizza craving, something the big pizza chains cannot do.
The owner Dianne, was very nice and we ended up talking to her for quite a while. She gave us all the good places to eat in the area to include the places to avoid, which we very much appreciated. If you are ever in New Braunsfels, Texas you have to stop by her pizza shop for some of the best pizza you will ever have.
One such place to go see, according to Dianne, was the town of Gruene, Texas, pronounced green, which was settled by German farmers in the mid 1840s. It has a rich history and is just nice to walk through.
The biggest landmark of Gruene Texas, its water tower. |
Some of the best Baby Back Rib I have ever eaten. It was very close to the ribs at Brother BBQ in Kentucky. |
Free range organic chicken is used for the Fire Grilled Chicken. |
Stuffed to the gills with Baby Back Ribs. |
One of the many mantels over one of the many fire places. |
Another mantle over another fireplace. |
Some of the truss work in the building. |
One of the many brick walls in the structure. |
Another brick wall which adds character to the restaurant. |
Some of the outside eating areas overlooking the Guadalupe River. |
More dining over looking the Guadalupe River. |
Tia enjoying the view of the river. |
The courtyard at The Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar. |
Another dining room in the restaurant. Just love the pot belly stove. |
The main entrance into the restaurant. |
Another picture of the main entrance to the restaurant. |
The walkway to the restaurant from the street. |
I realize that when we do enter a building, sometime it seems you are being swarmed by kids, but please observe us prior to barking out commands to make sure our kids behave, because they do behave and know not to touch anything without asking. He did not seem to be kid friendly. You might say he was a little fickle.
The Tipsy Gypsy and Fickle Pickles stores. |
The kids showing off their new headgear. |
Gruene Coffee Haus. |
Some of the largest wind chimes we have ever seen. |
While we were walking through the town of Gruene today, R.C., who is the husband of Carol, the chef and owner of the cafe, shouted hi to us while driving by. It just makes you feel like you belong and are welcomed when people go out of their way to say hello.
So that is what's been going on with us, up until now. We did plenty more on this day, but I will stop here since this one is getting long and you are probably getting really tired of reading.
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So God Bless you all and may He keep you safe in all that you do.
Thanks!
Don, Misty, & Kids...
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