Hello! Wow, what a long trip today! Over 580 miles covered in one day. We woke up in the San Antonio area to a 30 degree temperature and we got the wheels rolling at 7am knowing that we had a long day ahead of us. We watched the weather on TV last night and they mentioned the “S” word! The “S” word in our current area??? That’s impossible! I mean, isn’t that why we left New England in the first place – to get away from that stuff! So we wouldn’t have to see it in the first place!! Soooo not fair

Anyways, along with my trusty Blackberry (which I’m using now because, sure enough again, I’ve got no internet service at the Sunland Racetrack and Casino in El Paso), anyways, my blackberry has weather radar and I can also get a hold of my online buddies nationwide to see what’s going on around us weather wise.

So, temperature wise, it was not going to be a good day at all – the temperature lingered between 30 and 35 all day and sure enough, that wind was hitting us all day…..we plowed thru two tanks of fuel, but we knew we had to get out of Texas, the snow was on our tail…

There is no Nextel service between San Antonio and El Paso – I was off line for 8 hour due to this and the last thing that was transmitted to me via Blackberry was from a trucker a little north of us informing everyone that I-40 had a mandatory shut down due to ice from Texas into New Mexico. We stayed on I-10 the whole time from San Antonio to El Paso.

As I had no cell signal or internet service, I decided to live in real time and enjoy the scenery…..

I actually had a chance to drive today too…my dad gave up the steering wheel to me I drove this pick up and fifthwheel before and today was a nice and easy day for me to add some miles to the truck. We were going along and another fifthwheel RV traveler caught up to us. No, I’m not a slow driver, I was going 70, he was speeding. Anyways, I see it’s a white pick up truck carrying a Montana fifthwheel – the Montana must of been 7 or 8 years old – no biggie.

So THIS is where I made my mistake and next time, I will keep my mouth shut. I casually mention “Oh look we have another fifthwheel RVer behind us. Cool.” Now, let me just say that I don’t care what your driving, as long as it makes you happy. I couldn’t care less about what vehicle you own – whatever it may be – more power to you. Well, my dad don’t see vehicle ownership the same way I do. Nope, far from it…..

The pick up truck pulling the Montana behind us decides to pass me. No biggie to me. My dad asks me “What is it? A dodge??” I peek in the driver side mirror and say “Nope” and continue looking straight ahead where my eyes should be. I don’t care what kind truck the guy is driving. My dad on the other hand is getting a little hyper “Is it a Chevy? Is it a Chevy?? It better not be a Ford passing me!”
Ohhh lord….I sigh and I peek out the mirror again and repeat myself (knowing exactly what kind of truck it is) “It’s not a Dodge.” The pick up truck is in the process of passing us just about now and the couple inside waves to us. I meekly wave back and my dad points at it and states “It’s a Ford! A God Damn Ford is passing us!!” My mom is in the back seat and my dad looks at me and orders “You let him in, you stay up with him, and when we hit a hill, we are gonna remind him that he has a Ford!!” I personally don’t understand the competitiveness, but I got my direct orders, so I kick it up 5 mph more. My mom don’t like this idea at all and I knew she wouldn’t, so she takes advantage of the rest area that is coming up in 4 miles. She says “Why don’t we stop at the rest area?” This statement is probably the only 8 words that is gonna get me out of this situation. And keep in mind that we are in Texas, not too many hills around to teach the Ford a lesson.

So, my dad caves and says “Fine. We will stop. We’ll catch him, he’s gotta stop somewhere for gas.” So we let Jake out to do his thing and three minutes later we are back on the road – me behind the wheel still. We are mosey along and good ol’ Dad is scouting out rest areas as we scoot along on I-10.

Three hours pass by and we stop again to switch drivers and we are pulling out of the rest area and see the Ford zipping by on the highway as we are coming out of the rest area. My dad is at it again and says “There he is! All I need is one hill and when I get done with him, he’ll be trading that Ford for a Dodge!” As for me, I just don’t get it. But, it’s okay, the whole thing makes for a good comedy show and a blog posting!

So we trail the Ford for about a 1/2 hour looking for a hill and the Ford calls it a day and takes an exit and we whizz by and I wave, my Dad keeps driving…..

After the Ford episode, we have reached a part of Texas that had snow on the ground. Like, real snow, so I snapped some pictures of it. And when I got Nextel service back in El Paso, I put out a post to my friends that I am looking at snow and a 30 degree temperature. My New England buddies all came back with the same news of it being in the low 60′s! Like I want to hear that! And I’m freezing in Texas.

We are staying at the Sunland Racetrack and Casino tonight and let me tell what “luck” is. They have 8 hook ups here for RVs. It’s a “first come, first serve” and if you don’t get a spot, you are out of luck. Last winter we didn’t get a spot and had to dry camp in the parking lot here (it wasn’t freezing like this last year). Tonight there was one hook up spot open! 1 out of 8!! With all the snowbirds traveling thru, I couldn’t believe we got a spot! So we plugged in and turned the furnace on…..good for the night and Jake is warm and comfy.

It’s $10 a night here, so we went inside to pay and played the slot machines for a while. And now it’s about 9pm and I’m exhausted. I can hear the little electric heater next to my bed and I am one happy camper!

So, today’s question of the day for ya! You know what we drive. What do you drive? Are you a Dodge Diehard, a Faithful Ford owner, maybe a Chevy Committed owner?? Maybe you don’t care what you drive and what you drive you can afford? Even better! Tell me what you drive and don’t forget to tell me whyyyyy!

Off to bed with Jake. Got 500 miles to go and will probably do that over two days. We are heading to Yuma first to lock in a site for three months and then after the holidays, we are heading up to Vegas for a week or two. Have a great night!