Strut Bearings and Mounts -- Tues., Mar. 5

Yesterday I took my Escape pod into Grande Ford in San Antonio for an oil change. While they were at it, I asked if they could please see what might be causing a "clunking" noise under the front end of the car when I turned the steering wheel at low speeds.

Upon checking the suspension, they found my car needed to have the strut bearings and mounts replaced. It must have needed them for quite a while judging by how long I've been hearing the noise and seeing the "wear" on my left front tire. Unfortunately the price is quite a set back at $600.00. I couldn't leave my car with them overnight because I had to drive back to the 5er.

This morning, we took my Escape back to the dealership. They needed it all day. This afternoon I got a call from Grande Ford telling me while they were making the repair they found a cable chain (?) that was ready to break. That necessitated them ordering the part to fix it.

When the package with the part arrived at their repair shop some of the components were missing from the package. They had to send it back and order another part because the components that were missing were essential to the repair. My car won't be finished until tomorrow.

That had a domino effect on my plans for tomorrow. Peri and I planned to do a 10K Volksmarch in New Braunfels, Texas. That has been successfully rescheduled to Thursday.

Amazing how dominoes fall in order. The other domino, which had to be taken off the table due to the expense of the car repair, was our trip to New Orleans. We had planned to leave Saturday and visit with Bob's great aunt who lives in New Orleans, then spend three days exploring the area. We will have to reschedule that trip into the future. "Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future." (Lyrics from Steve Miller Band.)

Today the chores descended upon me: vacuuming, laundry, chopping pecans and walnuts for oatmeal and salads, making hard boiled eggs for egg salad sandwiches, and backing up my computer.

Talk about tight camping sites...a MH just backed in behind us. There are only a couple of feet to spare. I was nervous as they backed in because it's a rental MH and they were getting really close. I went outside and the young lady asked me if it was okay that they parked so close. I told her, "Yes," but only because if they didn't, the nose of their MH would have been in the entry drive. They are from Switzerland. I don't know how good their English is.

Looking out our back window.

 Here are a couple of bird photos from our 5er window.

Common grackle.

Female cardinal with nut in her mouth.

Let's call it a day shall we. Have safe travels.

Travel Bug out. 

Snakes on a Plain -- Sat., May 26

Weather: 93 degrees F., windy.

Location: Oil field near Cotulla, Texas, at our gate. Dining room table in our 5th wheel trailer.

View: Mesquite trees, dirt road, blowing dust, desert scrub, snake. "SNAKE," did you say, "SNAKE?"

Yes. I said "SNAKE."

As I was sitting at my computer re-working my blog, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a snake slithering rapidly away from our 5er into the brush by my car. No identity for the snake as it disappeared from view soon after I glanced at it; I'm pretty sure it was NOT a rattlesnake. Estimate of length: 2-1/2 to 3 feet. Be still my beating heart.

Back to business as unusual. Only one page on the log so far today. Very quiet for us.

Dinnertime. Bob and I prepared tostadas. 

As soon as we sat down to eat, I hear, "SNAKE. Grab your camera." Bob spotted a 4'-5' long, very shiny snake slowly making its way across the road in front of his truck. Bob says, "Go take a picture of it!" Instead I grabbed the binoculars and examined it SAFELY from the dining room window. It was not a rattler. But it WAS the shiniest snake I have ever seen, kind of a silvery copper color with a faint pattern on it. We didn't get a picture even though we looked outside for it after dinner. It was probably long gone.


Two snakes in one day, neither one a rattler. Whew.


This evening some workers came to pick up equipment. I asked them about the long snake. They said it's one of the good snakes that emulates a rattlesnake. I remember when we went to the nature center in Kerrville, the docent told us about a constrictor-type snake that eats rattlesnakes. I'm pretty sure that's what we saw. It was loooooooonnnnngggg.

Anyway, the workers told us to get a special kind of yellow light to put under our rig because the snakes don't like yellow lights. 

I said, "What about mothballs?" 

They said, "Mothballs are good." 

As soon as they drove off I got our new box of mothballs and distributed them under all three of our moveable vehicles. Mothballs are also supposed to keep mice and ants away. Mothballs are my new insecticide/snake-icide/mouse-icide.


Bob's walk: Tonight Bob saw two Springbok antelope and what he thinks were two elands on the ranch across the street. First sighting of the elands! Eland (Taurotragus): Introduced [to Texas] in the early 1950s from Africa. The largest antelope in the world. Deep chestnut or bluish grey to pale buff or tan. Female: 800 lb. Male: 2000 lb. Update 6/1/12: Nope, not elands. What he saw were Axis deer (one normal color of tan with white spots; three albino).


Other wildlife sighting today at our rig: roadrunner, lizards.

Here are photos of the wildflowers that are in bloom after the last rain, one of our truck and 5th wheel trailer, and one of the cardinal who lives in this area.

Next time I see a snake I will risk life and limb to get a picture for you, my dear readers.

Life is good. Travel Bug out.