It is now 2020. I hope the world can become, at least, a little better this coming year. For all my friends and acquaintances I hope you can have as good a luck in life as I have had.

Today I took the truck to a service garage. They did a number of tests and found nothing wrong. They did find a record of intermittent glitches which was probably what I've been feeling. They do seem to have gone away, but they've done that before. Whole group of nice guys at the garage. I find that most of the people I run into here in Texas are smiling.

In any case I have decided to turn around and head east. Friday I will return to the campground in Egan, LA. After that is up in the air. We'll see how the truck behaves on a longer trip.

Still running into wonderful people. Yesterday I did laundry in a local laundromat. Then went grocery shopping. While I was checking out a woman came up to me with my change collection that I had left behind in the laundromat. She had driven around town looking for my truck. I haven't met a surly, or angry person on this trip.

At last, a bicycle ride. Tried the bike while in Louisiana and the saddle kept tipping. When I checked it I found the grooves which keep it from tipping were stripped. Yesterday I drove to a nearby town and got a new clamp. Seems to be working. But, I am in horrible shape.

Today is a day for bike rides and chores, cleaning, putting things away, etc.

I am in the Lake Texana State Park in Edna, Texas. A very nice park with decent size spaces, paved roads, and decent washrooms. I've been here before and knew it would be a good place to stop.

The past few days have been stressful. I wanted to leave the campground in Egan, Louisiana early in the morning. When the alarm woke me I realized I didn't know where my new, expensive hearing aid was. An hour later I found it in the corner of a box of miscellaneous junk. So now I'm leaving an hour later than planned.

A couple of hours on the highway I realize the truck is acting the same way as before I had the new fuel tank installed. I'm most of the way to the new campground in Texas, where I will research my choices. Then I hear a large bang and the sound of metal scraping the pavement. I managed to get to the breakdown lane and stop. I'm on I59 in Houston Texas. It's a four lane highway with 75 mile an hour speed limit. Not a very comfortable place to be. Just to get out to see what is wrong I have to wait many minutes for a small break in traffic to open the door and step out. My exhaust system has broken off on the front and is still fastened in the back. If I try driving it will catch on something and impale the truck bed.

I decide I need to be towed to someplace safe. At this point I am thankful I have kept up my membership in AAA. A call to AAA gets me assurances they will take care of me. After a number of phone calls explaining my situation and the type of vehicle I'm in a towing company is called. That leads to more explaining, where I am, what the vehicle is, and where I want to go.

After an hour of all this and the constant rocking from passing traffic a wonderful helper shows up with a heavy duty tow truck. He slides under the truck and uses some of my paracord to tie the system up away from the road. We then head for the campground eighty miles away. We stop on the way and I treat for supper. He didn't even argue over the bill, which made me feel good. We get to the campground at nine in the evening. He parks me in my spot. Wishes me good luck and heads home.
I collapse and go to bed.

The next day I look at the situation and realize the truck is driveable if you don't mind waking everyone within a quarter mile. I check-in with the park and get a couple of recommendations for a place that can weld the system back together. I head out for Edna Texas about six miles away. Half way there the exhaust hits the pavement again. The heat of the exhaust has gotten to the paracord. This time I am on a back road with very little traffic. I get under the truck and tie things up again with heavier stuff. When I get into Edna, which is a very small town, I find Crossroads Collision Repair is willing to do the job. Three hours later the truck is whole again.

The whole experience just illustrates how good things really are. AAA was very competent and concerned about my safety. I'm very happen I've kept up my membership for 61 years. Kevin the tow truck driver was extremely competent and went well beyond what he had to do to get me safe and in a place I could catch up to what I needed to do. Adrian at Crossroads in Edna made sure the truck was repaired and the charge was very reasonable.

Today I went back into Edna and bought a couple of bottles of dry-gas as I thought maybe I just had water in the gas and that was causing the uneven running. Then I drove twenty miles to test the theory and buy a couple of things for my bicycle. Problem is still there.

I have an appointment for Tuesday morning to get things checked out. This trip has not been much fun, but has made me so appreciative of the goodness of people.

Parked in Hidden Pines Campground, Egan, Louisiana. Arrived Monday after a 356 mile drive. Nice campground, lots of space, clean facilities. Campground owners and hosts Stephanie and Chance good people.

 As you can see I am the only one on this side of the campground. I'm told the place will probably be full this weekend. But, I won't be here. Temperatures were in the 60s yesterday, supposed to be 70 today.

I haven't had any adventures so far this trip. Too busy traveling or working on the camper. Made a couple of plywood covers for the sink and stove. Now have lots of counter space. A whole four feet.

How I hate concrete highways. They are always rough and make for a continuous bumpy ride. There was a long stretch on the way here. I think they may have stirred up dirt in the fuel tank. The truck began to run very rough. It did smooth out after a while after getting off the concrete. I'm scared to death the truck will quit again. 

Just went for my first bicycle ride on this trip. I brought the bike along but forgot the air pump. Yesterday the camp owner used his compressor to take care of the tires. I am in horrible shape.

On Thursday I drove 475 miles from Lebanon, Tennessee to Pensacola, Beach, Fl.  This to be the decision point, am I going to the Everglades and Key West or west to Texas and beyond. I am camped in Fort Pickens campground. Part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. A very flat peninsula across the bay from Pensacola.

Yesterday I worked on a couple of pieces of plywood to make a temporary counter over the stove and sink. Makes for a more convenient work surface. Today I'm going to do some laundry and go grocery shopping.

I am still in awe of my gps in the truck. Coming through Pensacola without it would have been a nightmare. I would love to understand the algorithim

Last night the temperature here was in the twenties. I had three levels of blankets on and was still chilled. Finally dawned on me that it was the mattress that was cold. In this camper the bed hangs out over the truck cab. There is no insulation under the mattress, just plywood and aluminum siding. I got up rigged the bed where the dinette is and finally got some sleep. Not a very comfortable setup and very inconvenient to do that on a regular basis.

Today I bought some foil faced insulation and put it under the mattress. We will see how well I sleep tonight. If the same problem occurs the trip will be over and I will be on my way home as fast as possible. If I sleep well I will decide in the morning if I am headed for Florida, Texas, or Maine.

I have enjoyed staying at this park because of the people. I feel like I have joined a new family. The park itself is nice, the facilities new and clean. But with all my vehicle problems this was just a place to stay. The support and help I got from the park Director and the check-in clerk was just over the top. And I got my own banjo concert.

I belong to a website called Rvillage where people try to meet up in campgrounds. Today I met Terry,  a wonderful lady. We talked for hours. Tomorrow we go our separate ways and may never meet in person again. I do think we will be staying in touch through the internet.

I'm back in the Cedars of Lebanon state park. Probably going to stay for a couple of days to check out my new fuel pump by taking a drive and do a couple of chores on the camper. Today was very expensive, enough to be discouraging. On the other hand the truck drives much smoother.

Tonight I am staying at the Ramada in Lebanon, TN. This morning I tried to start the truck to meet a lady for lunch. Truck would turn over, but not start. The truck is at a service station waiting to be looked at tomorrow.

Thanks to the kindness of Buddy the buyer of my antique banjo I was able to get to the motel from the service station. And tomorrow he is going to take me back to get my camper.

At this point I am so discouraged I think the trip is over. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Still at Cedars of Lebanon. Nice park. Widely spaced sites, clean restrooms, nice showers.

Waiting for a private concert on the banjo I sold.

Went to go for a bike ride, but found tires low and I forgot an air pump. Also need to lubricate every moving part on the bike.

Tomorrow I'm taking a lady I met to a dinner at the local senior center. Hope to meet and enjoy the company of a bunch of people for the afternoon. Then I will be gone on Tuesday.

I'm at the Cedars of Lebanon State Park in Lebanon TN. I signed up for a week so I could take care of a business chore in Nashville. Thanks to a stroke of good luck the business was completed before I even moved into my site.

The trip here from NC was not bad at all. Lots of beautiful scenery on the way. Going through the Great Smoky mountains was spectacular. That trip is beautiful anyway and today everything was coated with a dusting of snow.

Tomorrow I need to do a little shopping and explore the area.

Parked at the Flying J truck stop in Haw River NC. Left Hampton, VA this morning. Will stay here tonight and try to be parked somewhere near Nashville, TN tomorrow night. Take care of a chore there and truly be on the road again.

At the daughters in Hampton, VA.  Arrived here just after midnight Thursday. A long trip but went easy. Took the ferry from Cape May NJ to Lewes MD.
Will be here until a mail package arrives from Maine. Depending on weather the next destination will be Nashville, TN or some place in the Florida panhandle.
I do enjoy this camper and its space.

Still in CT. Decided not to try the slippery road since I don't need to. Plus I get to play another game of Settlers of Catan. Will try to leave tomorrow.

Wow. Long time no posting. Life has gotten in the way and changed.

I'm on the road again. In a slide in, full size camper. The Aliner is parked in the driveway at home, being used as a craft room. Probably sell it in the spring.

Not actually on the road, parked at daughters house in Marlborough, CT. Planning to leave here Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the weather. Then a stop in NJ, and on to the daughters in Hampton, VA.

Then it will be really on the road with no set itinerary. Possible stop in Tennessee to sell a banjo. Then a stop in the Florida panhandle. There I will decide to head for south Florida or west to who knows where. Planning to stay in warm places as much as possible.

There will be geocaching, and visits to odd places on the way. With a little bit of work and some purchases on the way I'll try to get on my ham radio when not driving.

I'm going to try harder to meet interesting people on the way. As an introvert I haven't put much effort into that in the past.

I would love to hear from people as I travel. Please post.