You would think we would be done for awhile.

Upon returning from the trip of a lifetime. Smokin Hot and I completed our 10 day challenge and moved to a quaint RV park in Gladewater Texas. Shallow Creek RV Park and Resort. Voted number 1 in all of the East Texas area! Call Sammi and Tim and tell them we sent you. You will love them and the park.

We got settled and began our transformation of the rig. Unfortunately the rain from out West followed us. It rained, and rained, and rained! It wouldn’t stop! We finally started to dry out on the balance of our trip through Arizona and West Texas, but we hadn’t even had the chance to fix the hole in our roof. It began to pour in once again. We would go to sleep with the deafening sound of heavy rain on our rooftop and wake up to the deafening sound of heavy rain on our rooftop. Poor Lucy had to go potty every time in water above her feet and she was not happy. She would try to hold it, but finally just had to stand in the water. We tried to at least hold an umbrella over her, but she couldn’t seem to get the idea that it was drier under there. LOL

My daughter Keri and Son In-law Caleb had recently relocated to Destin Florida with the Airforce. (We are proud of him) 😉 Anyway, we have really been excited about heading down to visit with them and see their new apartment and of course go fishing, so in order to try and escape the rain and do a little fishing and most of all see our kids, we headed out on a Thursday evening. Our Son Sam decided to take off a few days and come with us, so we left around 7 pm Thursday night with hopes of getting several hours down the road in order to make Friday a less intensive trip. The evening was uneventful as was the day on Friday. The rig was perfect(a bit soggy still) but it drove perfectly and we had no issues. AND the rain finally stopped. It might turn out to be a pretty weekend!!

Actually, the weather was ok, it wasn’t fishing weather, but we went anyway. This is a picture of Caleb and Keri’s new adventure Jeep! We loaded it to the top with all our fishing gear and we were on our way!

Jill and I had never fished from a bridge before, but there is always a first time. The wind was only about 30 mph and the temp was only around 60. Smokin Hot does not do well in any temp under 80. What a beautiful view though huh? We had the best time despite not catching a thing. We can’t wait to go back when the temp reaches 80.

Sunday morning before Church I decided I had better check the weather for our trip home the next day. Just to make sure. WINTER STORM WATCH? Really?? It was supposed to begin Monday morning and last all day with sleet, snow and freezing rain. Our son Sam needed to be home in time for work on Tuesday morning, so I had a decision to make. I had never driven a 37 foot motor home in the ice and snow. Leave after church and beat the storm home, or enjoy the day and drive home during the storm. If it was too bad we could stop on the way. We didn’t want to cut our trip short, so we opted to wait and leave early Monday morning. We had a 14 hour drive ahead of us, so we left around 5 am.

I was really nervous that morning. I remember it well. I had the weather app up on my phone the entire day and fortunately the ice snow line was staying north all the way to Shreveport La. The question was, how bad was it from then on. We got within a hundred miles of Shreveport and we began to hear rumors that the city was shut down. We couldn’t get through, but Sammy had to be at work tomorrow morning? I came up with a plan. We would cut across the texas LA border south of Shreveport, then go north on the back roads. Surely it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t get home. The problem is that most of the interstates in Shreveport are elevated, If I could stay on the ground I could get there.

30 miles from Shreveport I had to stop for fuel. Smokin was not happy with me as she wanted me to stop now and then assess in the morning. Sammy’s boss would understand. I on the other hand felt that I was not putting us in danger, and if it got dangerous, I would stop. My idea of danger is a bit different than Smokin Hots, but then that’s why we get along so well. 😉 Sammy of course wasn’t helping. He loved the thought of driving through the ice and snow and felt we should continue. Again, his mom wasn’t happy with him either. I learned at the fuel station that there was 1 road that was open in Shreveport. The truckers were making their way through. That would really cut a lot of time off of my plan to go west early and then north on the back roads, so I opted to make a run for it. We were going to Shreveport!!

Barely doing 30 mph we got to the road block and detour. There was an open road after all. ONE! That was it. We proceeded with caution. The roads were icy and hazardous, however 20-30k pounds helps a lot. The key is to not begin sliding because once it starts, 20-30k pounds then isn’t a help at all but the opposite. Smokin Hot is getting increasingly upset with me. Its going to be fine baby!! I’ve got this. Sammy was like a puppy at Christmas, sitting in the cabin with me and had the biggest smile on his face.

We finally made it out of Shreveport. It took probably an hour and a half, but we made it out. Interstate 20 was wonderfully clear, the truckers were booking down the road and I immediately began to feel better. Unfortunately it was getting dark, and with dark came black ice!!

The scariest part on I 20, was the last 10 miles or so. It was dark, the temp had sunk well below freezing and cars and trucks were sliding off the road everywhere. Just 10 more miles and we will be there! We were almost home and just ahead was a car that had hit the median wall. It was positioned perfectly in the middle of the road, so I had to apply the breaks quickly and as easily as I could and carefully drive around the car off the side of the road. Jill wanted me to stop and help, but I just couldn’t. If I had stopped I would have endangered all around us by blocking the road. Cars were coming in fast and I just couldn’t take a chance. Police were everywhere, so I am sure those nice people were taken care of quickly.

Shallow Creek RV park has a steep entrance. I pulled up and into the center lane outside our home. Do I take the chance and attempt to make the hill? I sat there for 15 minutes calculating. Ultimately I decided not to try and we went down the road and spent the night in a parking lot not a mile from our destination. Sammy made it to work on time. 😉

Not only did we have that ice-snow storm, but we had two more that week. Would we ever have a nice dry day? We literally had only 4 days in 3 weeks living in our new home when the weather was dry. We can’t wait for summer!!

BTW, yes the weather has been rough on us since the beginning. Would we change anything about our new adventure? Absolutely not. We love our new life!