Three flats and a blow out

After we left Hot Springs we headed to Vicksburg, MS. It was a long dreary drive. It didn't rain very much but it was cold and gray.
We spent the day in Vicksburg going around the battlefields and taking pictures of the state monuments. I also spent a little time at the outlet mall.
As we prepared to leave Vicksburg we were all set to take off when Bill noticed a flat on the camper's left side front axle. We called Good Sam and they had someone there, fixed the flat and we were gone in about 45 minutes. We headed of toward Gulfport, MS it was a beautiful day and we had no problems. Until we were about 35 minutes north of Gulfport, we had just passed a 5th wheel and drove on when they came running up along side us blowing their horn and waving, we thought that we had another flat. We had a blowout on the right side front axle. There was an 18" strip of rubber in addition to a tiny fringe of rubber around the rim. The tire was gone, completely gone. the rim was chewed up a little, but still usable.

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Well, unfortunately since it was late Sunday afternoon Bill decided to change it himself. It was pretty difficult to get those lug nuts off, but he did it and we were back on the road in short order. But the fun wasn't over just yet. 

 When we went outside the next morning the tire that had the flat the previous day was flat again, but Bill just aired it up with his compressor and began thinking seriously about new tires for the camper. Our preacher friend had given us a recommendation last year, so we called him for an update, went to a couple of places checking prices and availability. We ended up ordering two tires to be put on the next day. We spent about half the day doing this instead of walking on the beach in Biloxi, MS. I wasn't happy about this, but you do what you have to do.

I went on line to check out these camper tires. Power Max/ Tow King seems to be the # 1 tires RV manufacturers use on their campers. I read the reviews and they are constantly failing and not just failing, but blowing out. This is so dangerous, I can't believe that manufacturers continue to use these. Just for fun I looked to see how much I could buy one for..... $65.00 each. The ones we bought to replace these chinese junk tires were about $200. **** camper warning**** check your camper tires.

So we were getting ready, packing up the camper to go and get the two tires, guess what, another flat tire. That's 3 flats and a blow out in a little more than 48 hours. We quickly called the tire guy to see if he could get two more, we decided to change all four. It took a few hours out of our travel time, but it is worth it to know that we are on safe tires now. It is tremendous peace of mind to know that we are as safe as we can be for ourselves and not a danger to others.

Getting a camp site, this is a whole other story, just wait.

Donna

Goodbye Arkansas

We spent those two nights in Hot Springs at the Lake Catherine State Park. Arkansas state parks are so nice, they really put a lot of care and comfort into their sites, this makes it so nice for the camping public. This campground has three seperate campgrounds, we were in section B. Campground C has been updated and is really nice, and since there was a tractor show there this past weekend we were unable to get into that area, but it didn't matter, our area was older but fine. Unfortunately I did not get out to take pictures until we were preparing to leave and it was dark and rainy and very overcast, but I did get some interesting shots. II missed the shot of the ducks on the water outiside our window though, really am sorry about that.

Tucker was looking for em ducks.

                        Ummmm, grammy, I did not find them ducks.

Donna

Picture Post

                                     Lots of pictures from our trip.

Heading south down that long and winding road.
On the road with Bill and Donna and Max, and for a few more days, Tucker.

Donna

Ahhhhhhhh, the Baths

Oh my goodness. If your idea of pampering and luxury is being waited on hand and foot, wrapped, soaked, scrubbed and bathed, well then this is the place for you. The Buckstaff Bath house offers a wonderful 'traditional bath' package at a very reasonable price. This even includes a 15 minute soak in the 104* mineral water after being scrubbed with a loofa mitt by your personal attendant. Then just as I was drifting into a comfortable sleep, it was time to get up and out of this huge old fashioned porcelain whirlpool tub and into a very hot sitz bath for about 15 minutes. This is very therapeutic for hips and low back. Next I was placed into one of those old fashioned steam cabinets. You know the type where only your head sticks out, I thought of Lucy the whole time I was in there which was only about 2 or 3 minutes. It was so hot in that box, I would have told them anything they asked me. We're not through yet.
Now they take you to a long row of tables, where you lie down and are wrapped neck to toes in hot towels, then an icey cold towel is placed on your forehead. This relaxation time lasts about 15 minutes. During this whole process you are given and strongly encouraged to drink the warm mineral water, but after the steam they switch to iced water to start the cooling off process. Once the towels are taken off we went into the "Cooling Room" and there you  get into the needle shower. This is a shower with dozens of jets of cool water in a very fine spray, like needles, this lasts about 3 minutes. I felt like I had been run through a car wash.
Now for the best part, wrapped in a sheet once again, I was led into the massage room where I met Robin my masseuse. She was a lovely little woman probably about my age and had magic fingers. She gave the best Swedish massage I had ever had and I felt better in 25 minutes than I have ever felt after a full hour massage. It was great.
I thought this was one of the most delightful experiences I have had, being wrapped in a sheet between each treatment by my own persaonal attendant, then scrubbed, and waited on, it was a great way to spend 90 minutes of my life.

If I lived in or near Hot Springs, AR I would definitely make this a regular thing. I don't care if it is Bill Clinton's home town.

Donna

Hitting the road

On October 15, the Smith's Fork Camp ground closed for the season. This means it is time for us to 'hit the road' again. So we are heading to Florida, escaping the approaching winter, with a few stops along the way.
Our trip began on October 16, we traveled to Branson, MO. We hauled our camper behind us and stayed with our friends Jan and Ron at their campground. We only stayed there one night, but it was fun.
On Wednesday afternoon we went to Huntsville, AR and the Withrow Springs State Park. It was so pretty here and the fall foliage is at it's peak. The campsites are pretty large and it's very quiet and relaxing.
Thursday morning bright and early we meet up with our friends again and travel about 30 minutes west to War Eagle, AR. for a giant craft fair at the War Eagle Mill. The day was lovely and the event was a lot of fun.

We spent a couple more days there at Withrow Springs, relaxing, and also doing a little site seeing. We went to Eureka Springs spent an afternoon walking around, and shopping a little. I took a number of pictures, I need to load them into the computer so I can include them in my blog.

We arrived in Hot Springs, AR this afternoon. Tomorrow we are going to Bath house row to take the 'baths'. I am kind of excited about it, the natural hot springs are supposed to be relaxing and therapeutic. They also offer a Swedish massage and steam rooms.
We are staying at the Lake Catherine State Park. Our campsite is right on the water and in the tall pines. It was bright, beautiful and very warm here when we arrived.
More later.............

Donna

Catching Up!?!

Well, I have discovered that mobile blogging is definitely not an optimal choice. I posted my last post via tablet, but the pictures did not load. They show up on my blog when I look at it on my droid, but not on the computer. Also as I notice, the pictures posted in reverse order, so I won't be using the droid for much of my blogging.

I know that we have not kept this up very well. Last update was that I was having some trouble with my vision. What actually had occured was the back of the lens capsule got clouded, this sometimes happens after cataract surgery. I did have cataracts removed on both eyes three or four years ago. The clouded capsule is fixed with a YAG laser in about ten minutes only a few months after the original surgery. But this one in my left eye took a bit longer. The repair only took ten or fifteen minutes, but the biggest hurdle was convincing my surgeon that this was the problem. For what ever reason my doctors did not seem to think that I would be much at all improved by this procedure. I was so frustrated with them and they were probably not very happy with me either. My vision in my left eye, my actual good eye had gotten so bad I now needed to use a magnifier for everything including menus in a restaurant.
The surgeon said that the problem was probably swelling in the retina, there was no fix or treatment for this, final. I said well, then, let's just do the laser procedure and see what happens.
When they were only about half way through with this laser I could tell that it was working, because the light that I could see had gone from greenish/ blue to bright white. God is so good to let me have my sight again. I am very grateful and it is startling to me almost every day how clearly I can see.

God is good, and I am so thankful that he has brought me through this difficult time.

Donna

At the salon

Getting a last pedicure from Lily before we hit the road. Lily is the cutest nail gal ever and she does a great job.
This is the toes before.