I am home. There were too many negatives on the trip, to the point I wasn't having fun. So, decided to end the trip. The major positive was all the wonderful people I met on this trip. It's a shame that I met most of them in the context of needing help.

Maybe I will be able to do the trip across the northern states this coming spring.  Would love to make a trip using this camper and take a boat to go sailing on the great lakes.

Took the time to winterize the camper today. Drained the black water and fresh water tanks. Then put four gallons of antifreeze in the fresh water tank. Then pumped some of that into the black water tank. All the water lines should have antifreeze in them now.

A nice couple stopped by to say hello. Milton and Lois are from just thirty miles away, so are on their home territory. He is a semi-retired biology professor, she has done a number of teaching and librarian jobs. The kind of connection that makes this type of travel fun. They had never heard of geocaching or Rvillage. So maybe I led them in a new path.

Went out for lunch and had a decent barbecue. Stopped and bought a bunch of snacks and now I'm just waiting to leave. Hope to leave at dawn tomorrow. Don't want to be driving in the dark, but leave as early as possible. That's been my routine lately. Then stop for breakfast when it's time for a driving break.

Today I reached Harrison Bay State Park in Harrison, Tennessee. Relatively smooth drive. Lots of very rough pavement, but mostly light traffic. This is a beautiful park. Very hilly, on a big lake. Man made, I think.

Tomorrow I am going to drain the fresh water, and black water tanks and put in some antifreeze. Friday I will be driving into snow country and I'll be worrying about water lines freezing. I think the next couple of stops are going to be at motels, and then at my daughters and then home. The one thing these trips do is to make home seem like heaven. Even Patty gets a halo.

I have felt very alone on this trip. Didn't use to bother me. I will never, again, make one of these long trips without ham radio ability. I had planned on installing a system during this trip, but events just got in the way. I plan on stopping at the Ham Radio Outlet in New Hampshire on the way home to buy the pieces I need to rig this camper.

I am in an RV park in Meridian, Mississippi. Very much a park designed for big rigs and people on the way somewhere. Concrete pads.Twenty seven spaces, two unisex washrooms/showers. Clean and spacious, but expecting few users. No tent sites. No playgrounds, no store.

I will be here for two nights and a day. Looking forward to being back in Maine. Even if there is snow on the ground.

The trip here was relatively easy in most respects. Not much traffic. Some of the roads were very rough. I am constantly worried that I'm feeling the symptoms that led to a new fuel pump. I can't tell if what I'm feeling is the lousy road, or a misfire. So very nervous. Very tired from being on edge.

Two couples here with ties to Maine. One woman born in Bangor. One man who was stationed at Dow Air Force Base (now Bangor airport) when they were closing down the base and giving the place to the city of Bangor.

I am in the Hidden Pines Family Campground in Egan, Louisiana. I like the place, but will be leaving Monday. The truck was running well on the way here, so some of my uneasiness has gone.

The decision has been made. I am headed home by the fastest route. Tomorrow night I will be at a campground in Meridian, MS. There have been too many negatives on this trip.

This campground I one of the nicest I've ever stayed in. Restrooms, and laundry are clean and comfortable. Owners are great. In fact, Stephanie, (of Chance and Stephanie, owners) just made me promise to call her when I get home, just to reassure her that I made it OK.

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.