Our previous home was in the Houston area. It's been 7 years since we've lived there and we've been back to visit once, for a friends wedding. 4 years ago, I was really starting to miss the Gulf area and our annual trip to Galveston. So, we planned what to do and how long to stay and were at the point of booking a trip, which was to include renting a house, when we decided it was just a little more than we really wanted to spend on a trip at the moment. This was also before we purchased our RV. Fortunate for us that we cancelled, because a little storm called "Ike" decided to visit Galveston, the exact week we had planned to go. Since then, I've jokingly told my Houston area friends that they really don't want us planning a trip.
Over the last few years, we've traveled a little and have visited the Razorback submarine in Little Rock, the USS Alabama, the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, and the USS Lexington. We are running out of TX local places to visit. All roads keep leading back to the Battleship TX. Do we try planning again?
Then, a news flash came across the Yahoo news feeder - the Battleship Texas was closed! AaaaaaHhhhhhh! Well, it was closed temporarily due to holes all around the bottom and water coming into the ship. The State Park system and the Restoration Foundation were able to contain the leaks and have started working on fixing all the holes. Fortunately for us, the repairs are being conducted in place and the Battleship Texas is once again open for tours. However, given the potential seriousness and the fact that a permanent solution to the leaks includes dry dock and no tours, we decided to chance it and plan a visit ASAP.
This past weekend was our selected long weekend for the trip - mostly because it was the only weekend we didn't have violin, football, a Bible class to teach, or other worship duties which required our presence.
We started our trip on Thursday late afternoon. We were able to leave a little early to hopefully get to the RV Park (Galveston SP was full) before Friday. We stopped in Coriscana to top off the van and Craig walked the trailer, as normal, to check for "problems". He'd already said that our 4 year old tires would probably need to be replaced before the next Star Party.
We were happily rolling down the highway when a little car started honking at us and pointing at the trailer. Let me throw this in, I don't travel too well. I can't read in the car, cross-stitch is iffy, and crocheting is about the only thing I find comfortable. So, I thought the road was rough anyway.
We'll, the roughness of the road was exaggerated by a blown front driver side tire on the RV. We pulled over and Craig thought he would be able to change it and suddenly, the freeway became very busy with inconsiderate 18 wheelers. We were about 1/2 between 2 exits about 20 miles apart. We found a low spot in the median between the feeder and the highway and managed to cross over to the feeder. Yes, it's illegal but safer than staying on the highway and we would have been very happy to see the DPS at this point.
Now safe on the feeder, Craig tries to change the tire and discovers we don't have the correct size to get the lug nuts off. It's getting dark and N is already tired of his seat and is screaming for all he's worth. According to the handy RV/Campground app, there's a truck stop back at the previous exit. So, we back track going about 20 mph. Unfortunately, the truck stop doesn't carry the correct size either. They do have a card for mobile 24 hour tire service. 2 very nice young men show up within 30 minutes and get the tire changed out. We are back on the road and get to the RV park just before midnight. Good thing we left early!
Over the last few years, we've traveled a little and have visited the Razorback submarine in Little Rock, the USS Alabama, the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, and the USS Lexington. We are running out of TX local places to visit. All roads keep leading back to the Battleship TX. Do we try planning again?
Then, a news flash came across the Yahoo news feeder - the Battleship Texas was closed! AaaaaaHhhhhhh! Well, it was closed temporarily due to holes all around the bottom and water coming into the ship. The State Park system and the Restoration Foundation were able to contain the leaks and have started working on fixing all the holes. Fortunately for us, the repairs are being conducted in place and the Battleship Texas is once again open for tours. However, given the potential seriousness and the fact that a permanent solution to the leaks includes dry dock and no tours, we decided to chance it and plan a visit ASAP.
This past weekend was our selected long weekend for the trip - mostly because it was the only weekend we didn't have violin, football, a Bible class to teach, or other worship duties which required our presence.
We started our trip on Thursday late afternoon. We were able to leave a little early to hopefully get to the RV Park (Galveston SP was full) before Friday. We stopped in Coriscana to top off the van and Craig walked the trailer, as normal, to check for "problems". He'd already said that our 4 year old tires would probably need to be replaced before the next Star Party.
We were happily rolling down the highway when a little car started honking at us and pointing at the trailer. Let me throw this in, I don't travel too well. I can't read in the car, cross-stitch is iffy, and crocheting is about the only thing I find comfortable. So, I thought the road was rough anyway.
We'll, the roughness of the road was exaggerated by a blown front driver side tire on the RV. We pulled over and Craig thought he would be able to change it and suddenly, the freeway became very busy with inconsiderate 18 wheelers. We were about 1/2 between 2 exits about 20 miles apart. We found a low spot in the median between the feeder and the highway and managed to cross over to the feeder. Yes, it's illegal but safer than staying on the highway and we would have been very happy to see the DPS at this point.
Now safe on the feeder, Craig tries to change the tire and discovers we don't have the correct size to get the lug nuts off. It's getting dark and N is already tired of his seat and is screaming for all he's worth. According to the handy RV/Campground app, there's a truck stop back at the previous exit. So, we back track going about 20 mph. Unfortunately, the truck stop doesn't carry the correct size either. They do have a card for mobile 24 hour tire service. 2 very nice young men show up within 30 minutes and get the tire changed out. We are back on the road and get to the RV park just before midnight. Good thing we left early!
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