Texas; January 15th thru January 18th

On Saturday morning, January 15th, we attempted to leave South Padre Island a little before 9:00 am.  I started up our car and it ran very rough.  I drove away thinking it would smooth out.  It didn’t.  The check-engine light came on also.  We returned to Ron and Terry’s to find out if there were any Ford dealerships nearby.    As we drove back the car started running smooth but the check-engine light remained on.

There were several dealerships within 50 miles but we either could not make contact with their service departments or they closed at noon.  We decided to head to Rosenberg, TX and hope for the best.

We drove north on Hwy 77.  Just north of Raymondville both northbound lanes of traffic were funneled into a Border Patrol checkpoint.  An officer looked in and visually checked us and the interior of our vehicle while a dog sniffed the trunk area.  We were delayed only a few seconds.  It rained off and on (mostly on) all the way to Rosenberg.

We arrived in Rosenberg at about 2:45 pm.  My brother, who lives in Rosenberg, had made a call to Legacy Ford and we stopped there to have the check-engine light diagnosed.  In short order I was told the onboard computer recorded a miss in the #5 cylinder but it was not occurring during the diagnosis.  The mechanic guessed I’d be OK driving on home.

We drove on to Don and Catherine’s home,DSCN0284 picked up Anna from a soccer game, and went out to eat at a local Mexican restaurant.  The food was very good.

On Sunday, January 16th, Catherine and Anna went to church.  Don, Chris, and I went to Brazos Bend State Park (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/brazos_bend/) to do some walking.  It was very wet and cloudy but we had a good walk and saw three alligators.  Two were small but the third was full size.  It was cloudy and rainy again today.

For photos of Don and his family click on the following link: http://picasaweb.google.com/goldwinger.shawnee/Texas1151111611Rosenberg?feat=directlink

On Monday, January 17th, we drove from Rosenberg to Texarkana, AR where we stayed at a newer Best Western Hotel.  We watched the K-State Wildcats piss away another basketball game then relaxed the rest of the evening.  This was our seventh day without sunshine.  I’m ready for sunshine even if it is 15 degrees.

On Tuesday, January 18th, we drove from Texarkana to home.  No sun again today.

DSCN0298

DSCN0299We arrived home around 7:15 pm.  I noticed right away that it was very cold.  When we stopped at the grocery store before going home Little Jimmie and the Twins shrunk up and retreated for cover so as not to develop frost bite.

It was a fun trip covering just under 2700 miles.  Despite the cold we are glad to be home.

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