Author: Graham Reddoch

“I hear the sweet, sweet sounds of Heaven
Fallin’ down, fallin’ down to this earth
I hear the sweet, sweetest sounds of Heaven
Driftin’ down, driftin’ down to this earth…”

The Rolling Stones, with Lady Gaga (2023)

While the latest Rolling Stones album “Hackney Diamonds” has been delightfully fallin’ down to my ears, Betty & I have been enjoying the sweet sounds of heaven along the Gulf coast. So we have decided to extend our stay at Galveston Island State Park for another week. Here are just some of the sweet sounds, tastes, and aromas that have been captivating our senses.

Cheers!

Since Betty & I enjoy being near water in many forms – by lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans, we often seek out campsites with easy access to such bodies. That has certainly been the case on this adventure, as we followed the mighty Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Our last post tells of the “beachside campground” we enjoyed at Galveston Island State Park. 

On our way now to Mustang Island State Park, near Corpus Christi, Texas, we were aware of opportunities for free camping ON the beach. The website “Freecampsites.net” helped identify spots on the side of the Gulf where we could stay overnight. But by using Google Maps, some of the access points seemed too sketchy for a class A motorhome. While many people posted that they had no problem getting on and off the beach in a 4 x 4, or even a small truck or rv, shifting sand conditions made it too much of a risk for full-timers in their 70’s to drive their home onto an isolated spot where AAA might refuse to send a tow truck. Then what!!!   Even if we could get on the beach, would there be enough room to turn our motorhome and toad around without getting stuck before the tide came in?

We had often heard about Magnolia Beach, and had zoomed in on Google Maps to confirm that class A’s like ours could camp without being buried up to our axles in sand. But we had never stayed here before.

When Betty & I arrived, we found that there is a large, flat, shell-covered beach very suitable for camping. In fact, a few RVs down from us is a large tag-axle diesel pusher – from Manitoba of all places! Maybe surprisingly (or not) many of those camping on the beach are Canadians, with a large Quebec contingency.  And it’s free!!

We topped up our fresh water before leaving Galveston; lithium batteries and solar panels are meeting our energy needs; and we are a little more cautious about adding to our black and grey tanks. So we are self-sufficient enough to hopefully make it dry camping for a week before we head to Mustang Island.

This unique stop on our overlandish odyssey is a great discovery. (And you can’t beat the price. Lol) Here’s hoping you are also able to discover new, memorable (and affordable) places on your journey through life.

Cheers!

For those who fly, a touchdown is when the plane successfully reaches the ground at your destination. For football fans, a touchdown is achieved when a player succeeds in battling their way to the endzone with the ball. In both cases there is a feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction, if not euphoria.  This week, Betty & I have achieved touchdown at South Padre Island, with the accompanying feelings of satisfaction and euphoria.  Yeah, we made it!!

We left Winnipeg with a certain amount of apprehension over personal health, and the ability of our old motorhome to make the trip. Would we successfully reach the ground at our destination, or would we drop the ball along the way, to mix metaphors. Lol.

Most of our journey was relatively smooth. Even the back roads we drove near the Mississippi River were in better condition than most main Manitoba roads. Our last post saw us at beautiful Magnolia Beach, where we had intended to stay for a week.

Betty and I had a pleasant evening outside in the warm, still air. Then at 10:00 pm the wind began and blew steadily all night long. In the morning most other RVers packed up and left the beach. We contemplated staying, but the forecast was for the wind and rain to continue until 10:00 pm that night.

As we pulled onto the highway, the wind caught our rolled-up awning, even though it was locked down in place on the side of our motorhome. Fortunately traffic was light, and Betty & I were able to get out our ladder and climb up and duct tape it back up. Apparently the lock had broken from the wind catching it just right (or just wrong – depending on how you look at it…)

The nearest town was just a short distance away, but as we approached we heard our retracting steps go out. Oh, oh! The day before we had removed the screen door cover to clean it, and the magnetic sensor had not been repositioned just right. Oops… While Betty held the door closed, I pulled into a nearby Walmart where we were able to quite easily fix the problem. Yeah!

So that’s more or less the extent of our issues to that point. We ended up staying for the next few days at Goliad Texas State Park, roughly half way between Magnolia Beach and Mustang Island.

December 1, 2023 finally arrived, and we were more than ready to bring in our slide-outs, raise our automatic levellers, and hit the road to South Padre Island.

And then the living room slide wouldn’t retract. Now what? We had paid thousands of dollars to have new gears installed on a re-aligned slide mechanism this past summer, after fighting with the slide for almost two years. Fortunately, our kind, young neighbour at Mustang Island came to our rescue, manually cranking it in.

Sierra Mobile RV Repair, in Port Isabelle, has helped us on previous visits, and they have agreed to get the slide working again. We have ordered replacement gears (about $400. USD. for both) and hope to have them installed when they arrive.

Well, in the overall scheme of things, it could be much worse. Our site at Isla Blanca Park (C413) is close to the beach, and we have already met some great neighbours.

Another highlight for me, so far, has been getting our motorhome washed and waxed by Carlos’ crew.

After a long time planning and hoping for a successful touchdown, Betty & I are more than happy to report that we have succeeded in reaching our destination and are experiencing both satisfaction and euphoria. Here’s hoping that you are also able to achieve touchdown at your preferred destination!

Cheers!

“Well I’m out of Alabama, down to Louisiana
Halfway bound to New Orleans
Yeah, I’m leaning on my Chevy
Rolling through the levee’s trying to get to where I wanna be
When I’m looking back at Texas
That’s where I reckon I can finally put myself at ease
Check my life there at the border
Everything over my shoulder
Just Mexico, Tequila and me
Yeah, Mexico, Tequila and me
That’s all, just Mexico, Tequila and me.” Alan Jackson

As noted in our Feb. 17, 2018 post, South Padre Island is on the southern border of Texas, across the Rio Grand River from Mexico. Having visited in 2018, Betty & I decided to make the short trip again to the border crossing at Progreso, Texas. We parked our Smart car in a lot on the U.S. side – for $4./day – and walked across the bridge to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico.

While we had our passports with us, we didn’t need to go through a Customs check point on the way in, simply paying a couple of dollars to enter.

As was our previous experience, the street in front of us was lined with pharmacies, dental offices/stores, and merchants selling miscellaneous items, both in small shops and on the sidewalk. We understood that the first couple of blocks were more expensive, with prices dropping the further we ventured.

A few blocks in, we were invited to enter a “spa” for pedicures, and enjoyed one-hour pedicures for $15. Only one of the staff spoke broken English, but she and the other Spanish-speaking staff were most pleasant as they beautified our previously sandaled feet.

The only other stop we made was at a pharmacy that provided low-cost meds both for me and Charlie. They even threw in a package of cold medicine. While Alan Jackson sang about adding tequila to the mix, we passed on that opportunity, since our motorhome cupboard is already well stocked with the necessary margarita ingredients. Lol. 

Crossing back over the bridge was uneventful. After paying 30 cents each to enter, we showed the U.S. Customs officer our Canadian passports, told them of our brief visit, and they waved us through. There were no pedestrians in front of us or behind. (Unlike the news report this week, indicating the access point is now crowded with refugees trying to enter.)

Also last week, we drove to a Verizon store in Brownsville to make a payment on our pay-as-you-go Jetpack. It was a beautiful sunny day, so on the way back we decided to detour to Boca Chica, Texas. On a previous visit to check out the beach access there, we had seen a small unincorporated community, and a fence with a SpaceX sign on it. But not much else.

Betty & I decided to check out recent SpaceX developments, and found Star Base, and the rocket launch pad easily visible from the road. One of the fences near the highway proclaims “Gateway To Mars”, so we assume that is where Elon Musk hopes to go next.

Whether you are eager to go to Mexico or Mars, we hope that you can enjoy what life brings on the journey along the way.

Cheers!

It’s NOT beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Everyone has their own experiences and expectations about the holiday season. If we were to believe those Hallmark movies, we would be snuggled up by a roaring fire, sipping hot chocolate after a sleigh ride through the lightly falling snow. Along the way we would have stopped for a skate on the pond, with the more experienced skater catching the other in their arms, before a fall. Christmas carols would waft through the air, and love would abound. How romantic!

December posts from prior years have noted our family’s traditions, so I won’t repeat them now. Except to say we dearly miss sitting down with our grown children and grandchildren tomorrow to celebrate a most special birth, and the joy we experience as a result.

All the quilted wall hangings pictured in previous December posts decorate our motorhome and remind us of the season. And we hope to attend a Christmas candle-light service this evening at our little Chapel By The Sea. Otherwise, it’s 24c here (75f), the sun is shining and we are headed to the beach for the afternoon. Not what we are used to, but we’ll make it work. Lol.

Whatever your traditions and current circumstances, may you experience peace and joy in this holiday season and the year ahead!

Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas and cheers!

Our travels with Charlie ended yesterday, Christmas morning, with his peaceful passing in our motorhome. Betty & I lay beside him on the floor as our old puppy took his last breaths. He was a big part of our lives for the past 16 years, and especially in the 6 years we have been full-time journeying across North America with him.

Here are just a few of the many happy remembrances of our time together.

I’m sure Charlie will rest in peace in doggy heaven, knowing he was well loved during his time on this earth.

“We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway
And I wonder if I’m really with you now
Or just chasin’ after some finer day

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin’ me late
Is keepin’ me waitin’…”     Carly Simon

Whether you remember Carly Simon’s song, or just the Heinz Ketchup commercial from 1979, anticipation is a powerful experience for many of us.  On our travels, Betty & I like to have a rough plan where we will go, what we will see, and whom we will meet. There is a sense of excitement and anticipation in preparing for the future.

But as Carly Simon also noted “We can never (fully) know about the days to come”.  Circumstances change, weather changes, and as we’ve found, health is something else over which we do not have full control.  We have to be prepared to accept what comes, and readjust our plans accordingly.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan. Betty and I have noted before that we try to balance spontaneity with planning on our overlandish odyssey. But as Robert Burns aptly noted in 1785 “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”.

But finally getting to the central point of this post: At Christmas 2022, Betty & I proposed to our family that we meet on South Padre Island in late January-early February 2024 for a late Christmas celebration, and an early celebration of Betty & my 50^thwedding anniversary, Valerie & Kevin’s 20^th wedding anniversary, Lisa & Adam’s 10^th wedding anniversary, as well as numerous birthdays.

A January 26, 2020 post entitled “Hallelujah” reflects on a similar late Christmas celebration in Phoenix, Arizona. Since a great time was had by all, we thought we’d try it again!

In March 2023 we discussed a number of homes available for rent on the island, and settled on one that could accommodate all of us. It has a large pool, hot tub, basketball court, soccer pitch, putting green, billiards room etc., and is close to the beach – so lots of potential activities for everyone. The main goal is just to have some hugs and memorable times together.

Now we’re weeks away from our get-together. What will we remember about it? We anticipate great weather, safe flights and drives, good health for everyone, and a great time to be had by all. But which of our plans are fully in our control?  Anticipation is keeping us waiting, and we can only hope and pray that we have the courage and faith to accept what is to come.

Here’s hoping that your plans are realized as you anticipate what the future holds for you! 

Cheers!

“And tomorrow we might not be together
I’m no prophet and I don’t know nature’s ways
So I’ll try and see into your eyes right now
And stay right here ’cause these are the good old days

And stay right here ’cause these are the good old days
(These are the good old days)
(These are the good old days)
(These are the good old days)
(These are the good old days).”      Carly Simon

“Slip slidin’ away
Slip slidin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away… ” Paul Simon

Slide-outs became common in RVs starting in the 1990’s. All vehicles need to maintain a certain maximum width to drive on the highways and down narrow roads. But it’s sure nice to expand that width and accompanying living space in an RV if a campsite permits. RV manufacturers began adding one slide-out, then two, and now some add up to five. Alternatively, some are manufactured with full wall slides, almost doubling the living space with the press of one button.

There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to slides. For instance, some layouts prevent the use of bathrooms, bedrooms, or refrigerators when the slides are in – not so good for accessing features while driving down the road, or at short stops where slides are not permitted.  But boy can they add floor space when you are parked where they can be extended!

Our motorhome has 3 slides, and for some reason they operate with different mechanisms. One extends our bed, with another taking the opposite wall of closets out a couple of feet. When they are in, we have to crawl over the bed to reach items on the other side, but when out, we have lots of room to get around.  Our living/dining/kitchen space is still functional when the main slide is in, but again, Betty & my style is not cramped so much when it is out! 

Previous posts have noted that all three slides have required maintenance, but none so much as our living room slide. This is a story of our most recent experience. Usually, I like to keep our posts upbeat, with lots of evocative pictures. You’ll find none of that here, so if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s time to look elsewhere. Lol.

BTW, if this was a typical shared campfire story, I’m not sure it would beat the experience of our friends at Town & Country in Winnipeg. Their living room hydraulic slide wouldn’t retract, but couldn’t find a mobile RV tech who could come and assist. They called for a tow truck to take it to a repair shop, but no tow truck would move it with the slide-out extended, and it refused to retract. Eventually, in desperation, they drove it over 80 miles (130km) with the slide extended, to a repair shop. And we’re not sure if it’s fixed yet… So I think they one up us. lol.

While on Vancouver Island for the winter of 2021/22, an RV repair guy spent six months trying to fix our slide. He wanted to order a new motor, but couldn’t find one. He took the motor to be refurbished, but was told there was nothing wrong with it. He cleaned and lubricated all the moving parts, checked the alignment, and got me to order a new gear, which he installed.  Still didn’t work.

On the way back to Winnipeg an RV tech in Twin Falls, Idaho, told us we needed a new slide controller, which I ordered. When we got back to Manitoba a mobile RV “tech” checked our spaghetti network of wires, and disconnected the power for all three slides.  Never saw him again…

Fortunately, fellow campers Jeff & Gordie checked the wiring, got the bedroom slides working again, and confirmed that the slide controller was not needed. (If anyone needs a new one…)

At the end of the season I took our motorhome to an RV shop that said they could fix it.  They didn’t.

In July, 2023, I took our coach to Stylings RV where it has been serviced for the past decade. They said the gear that the guy in Nanaimo installed was now chewed, and encouraged me to order two new ones. The new ones cost over $400. USD, plus shipping, duty, etc.  But they got them installed, and the slide worked again.  Fingers crossed…

As noted in my Dec. 8/23 post, we were trying to leave Mustang Island State Park for South Padre Island, when our living room slide wouldn’t retract. We are so thankful for our young, strong neighbour, John, who was able to crank it in for us!

As soon as we arrived at our current campsite (C413) at Isla Blanca Park, I called Sierra RV in Port Isabel, as they had serviced our coach on previous trips. RV tech Isaiah stopped by to troubleshoot the problem. He noted that the new gears installed in July were already chewed up, and recommended I order a new set. (Another $400. USD!) Since I had all the specifications from the July order, I placed an order with the supplier in California. This is when I made a critical mistake. On their website, I thought the shipping options were UPS or FedEx, and since the first was cheaper, that’s what I went with.

The next day I received a tracking number, went to the UPS site, and it didn’t work. Looking more closely I found it was USPS, and that extra S made a big difference, since USPS does not deliver to our campground!

I contacted the supplier right away, since the USPS tracking site said they were still awaiting the parts. But the supplier said there was nothing they could do about it. I tried contacting the US Postal Service, but couldn’t get through because all options began by providing my zip code, which I don’t have.

Tried to appeal to the supplier to contact USPS, with no luck. As expected, when the gears arrived at the SPI post office, they were immediately “Returned To Sender.”  They arrived at the Fontana, California post office Dec. 18/23, to be delivered the next day to the supplier, a few blocks away. That didn’t happen. I asked the supplier if they could pick the package up. No.  After Christmas it had still not been sent back, so I contacted the supplier a few more times, encouraging them to check with the local post office.

Turns out the post office lost the package, so I would have to order the parts again. Fortunately, the supplier refunded me the cost of the first gears, minus the shipping charges, after I paid another $400. for a third small gear, and a second large gear, plus $30. to have them sent to Sierra RV via FedEx.

I faithfully watched the FedEx tracking updates as the package arrived at Harlingen, Texas, via Memphis. It then showed “Out For Delivery”. Yeah!  Except then it was returned to Harlingen for an undetermined reason. I eventually got hold of a nice FedEx (I think Canada, employee) who transferred my call to Harlingen FedEx. Angel had my package, and the easiest way to get it on a Friday afternoon, was for Betty & me to drive there and pick it up.  Which is what we did…

On return I contacted Sierra Rv, and Isaiah came back out yesterday and installed the gears at a reasonable cost. He also reinforced the face plate covering the gears at the motor, so it shouldn’t shift out of line again.

The slide is working smoother and quieter than ever. Fingers crossed we don’t ever have to go through this ordeal again. May your days be smooth and quiet, and full of enjoyment, whether you slide in or out in life!

“God only knows
God makes his plan
The information’s unavailable
To the mortal man
We work our jobs
Collect our pay
Believe we’re gliding down the highway
When in fact we’re slip slidin’ away.”

Cheers!

“It might seem crazy what I am ’bout to say
Sunshine, she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care, baby by the way

Huh (Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do… Pharrell Williams 2014

Everyone’s lives have ups and downs, good times and bad. There are times when we feel like we are moving forward, and other moments like we are stuck in reverse. Anyone reading our travel blog will recognize that Betty & I have experienced all of the above.

But this week Pharrell Williams’ song best captures our mood:  Happiness is the truth!

Over a year ago we pitched our kids and grandkids on the idea of coming to South Padre Island for a week to celebrate a late Christmas, our daughter and her husband’s tenth wedding anniversary, our other daughter and her husband’s twentieth wedding anniversary, our fiftieth wedding anniversary, numerous birthdays, and whatever anyone felt like celebrating.  It has been a most happy time!

The following are just a few of the pictures that attempt to capture our shared experience. But they don’t do justice to the exhilarating feelings of elation that have surrounded us on South Padre Island this week!

Our week together isn’t over yet, but my camera is full, and my heart is overflowing with happiness that we can share this special time together!

Betty & I know from experience that life on this earth isn’t always easy. But we hope and pray that you can join Pharrell Williams and us in recognizing times when we are filled with joy!

“Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.”

Cheers!

“And you can tell everybody that this is your song
It may be quite simple but
Now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world.

I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world.”  Writer(s): Bernie Taupin, Elton John 

Sometimes relationships with relatives and friends can get really messy. Misunderstandings and arguments can lead to anger, bitterness, separation and loneliness.  Despite technological advances intended to improve communication and assist people in connecting more easily, many seem to be experiencing a disconnect from others these days. While pandemic isolation is hopefully in the rear-view mirror for now, maybe we could all benefit from opportunities to strengthen healthy friends and family relationships.

Betty & I had just such an opportunity this past week. 

My last post spoke of the happiness that emanated from our week-long celebrations with our family. This can be considered “Part Two” – covering the final fun family frolicking before everyone but us headed back to Manitoba. BTW, I can now happily report that everyone made it home safely. Yeah!

When I consider the pictures taken this week, they speak to me of joyful relationships. Here are but a few examples:

The home we rented had at least eleven large, flat-screen televisions. But for the week we were together, I didn’t see one turned on – ever! In addition to all the inside and outside activities, our kids and grandkids brought games and puzzles, and days were filled laughing and chatting over “go” or “boggle” or “zombie kittens” or any number of other challenges.

Betty & I hope that your relationships also include some wonderful, joyful, life-giving hugs with those in your world!

“I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world.”

Cheers!