Driving America

We Were Soldiers Once......... and Young

2011-06-09T15:09:00.015-05:00

One of the best visits on an RVing excursion I have had was the trip down to Harwood, Texas at the end of last year, with my son, also an Air Force veteran. This was to the Tactical Paintball field for the scenario of the battle for “Landing Zone XRAY”, one of the earliest and hardest fought battles of the Vietnam War. In November 1965, the 7th Cav landed in the Ia Drang Valley with 450 soldiers to begin a search for

North Vietnam regulars and shortly after hitting the ground, found out that they were surrounded by an enemy force 4 or 5 times their size. Last year there were honored guest that attended the paint-ball scenario: actual veterans of the battle in 1965. Each year the LZ Xray survivors of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry met somewhere and last year about 25 members, some of who were mentioned in the book, attended the event. Also attending was Joseph L. Galloway, co-author of the book, shown at the right speaking to all that attended.

This year, Tactical Paintball, once again, is presenting this special program and have planned to recognize all veterans that can attend. I am asking all of my old buddies to make an effort to get down there and do alittle camping or RVing right on the property. They have several RV sites set up with electricity.

For more info, see their web site: http://www.tacticalpaintball.com/

or the page for this event: http://www.tacticalpaintball.com/schedule.htm

Key's Visit To Dr. Blue

2010-02-19T11:43:00.006-06:00

Every year both Key and Juliet get a chance to see old and new friends at the Vet's office when they get their annual checkup. What a great staff at the “Harris Parkway Animal Hospital” and our most favorite vet in the whole wide world, Dr. Ann Blue DVM. Last year it was a big deal because we were dealing with the recovery of Key's injuries....minor as they were.......when in his enthusiasm to meet some cattle got the best of him and decided to sail out of a window on our motor home along the Sam Houston Toll Road in Houston.
That little trick resulted in a broken tooth repaired by (the world’s most expensive root canal) (done at a wonderful animal surgery hospital in next door Arlington) as opposed to having the tooth extracted. We opted for the root canal because we were leaving on a trip to the west coast and an extraction would have required more recovery time before traveling. We didn’t have the time. We had a schedule to meet.
So, as we planned for this year’s exams I expected both dogs to speed through their exams and we just finish whatever else we have to do to make sure we have all of the tags and records required for travel.
Not so fast, old RV driving boy! This dog has another tooth problem! “What” I said.” I can’t believe it. The same thing as last year. ” Let me see” Sure enough, there was a smaller tooth next to a larger canine tooth wacked off at about a 45 degree angle. Well, something has to be done. “So, what’s our options?” I said. As it turns out it would be better to just pull the tooth because they can do it there at the Vet’s office…………and it cost about half of what a root canal does. We have plenty of time this year, but we will schedule this pretty soon anyway. The bigger problem is how it happened. Key is a good dog but he has a couple of bad habits that probably is the reason he has this broken tooth. For one thing, he hates to see squirrels running around his trees on the patio like they own the place. So since he can’t get to the squirrels he takes it out on the tree. The Bradford Pear is holding its own though. The other problem happens every time the postman drives up in front of the house to the mail box. Key can’t get to him because of the gate, so he takes it out on the gate. Unfortunately for me, the gate isn’t fairing too well. I am pretty sure one of these two things is the cause of the broken tooth. I wonder how I could get “The Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan to my house for a free coaching visit.

Home

2009-09-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

Home: "We are touring all the states in the lower 48 plus Alaska."

2009-07-15T21:29:00.002-05:00

This summer it's been so hot around the old homestead that the wear and tear is sure showing on Key. The last 12 months have been hard for that ole dog. A trip to Alaska and back, a nose dive out on the freeway in Houston, and then being lost for 10 days wondering where the heck he was, and then when he finally gets back home, he gets operated on for a root canal. But, Key is such a good, friendly dog that I just like having him around. Over the years, he has developed a sense of responsibility not only for the property (territory), but also to Linda and me and especially Juliet. This is demonstrated quite clearly every morning when I hear a little chirping sound in my ear about 7AM. As I turn over to see Key sitting there with his mouth half open breathing a gentle "pant", which is a smile (to me), I know he's telling me it's time to open the back door. Somewhere close by is Juliet. She chooses to stand either close to the back door or just out of sight and let Key do the task of getting me out of bed. As I get out of bed and move to the back door, Key always stops and lets me exit the bedroom first and follows me to the back door. Many times, most of the time, Key follows Juliet out and will just stands or sits on the patio, watching Juliet scamper into the back yard and when she is finished and heads back into the house through the dogie door on the storm door, Key will slowly get up and follows her back into the house. I would love to know the communication that goes on between those two dogs.

I know that someday this will end. It has before. It's the way that it is and we can't change it. We have had many dogs, loyal and devoted ones that loved and was loved the same way that Key and Juliet are. We have to learn and be ready to accept the fact that someday they (or we) won't be around anymore. So the devotion and love they give to us I want to return to them. I want our time together to be as much as possible.

As some may know, Baxter Black is one of my favorite Cowboy Poets and I was particular moved by a video he did when he lost his dog. I hope you will take a look at it:

Baxter Black's "Just A Dog"

Planning 2009-2010

2009-06-22T16:50:00.000-05:00

We have plans for more travel this year and the really big trip next year.....which will be kinda a history lesson for both of us through the usual historic places most people go to in and around the Washington, DC area. But, the really big thing about next year will be attending the graduation of class 2010 at the United States Military Academy....West Point. My nephew, Joel Harris, will be graduating and his dad, retired from the U.S. Army will be pinning those 2nd Lt. bars on him. Below is an article that appeared in the West Point news letter posted on their web site.

Heading Home After CLDTCadets Ben Salvito, right, from Princeton, N.J., and Joel Harris from Gonzales, Texas, load their gear into their truck in Central Area June 17. The Company H-2 cadets are headed back to their hometowns for some well-deserved rest after enduring the first phase of Cadet Leader Development Training, a three-week test of first class cadets’ leadership abilities in the field. (Photo by Sgt. Vincent Fusco/DComm

Final Change To Computer Monitor

2009-06-06T17:22:00.000-05:00

When I started this project the one thing I wanted to adopt as our guide was to keep everything as simple as possible. Everything! As it was pointed out to me last night, when it came to making some sort of cover for the monitor, I allowed myself to think in terms of matching the base rather than just doing what it would take to accomplish the goal, which is just to have some sort of protection for the monitor. So....we went back to the basics and the most logical answer is just to cut out a piece of fiberboard, glue a handle on it, tape the edges to make it smooth and that's it. This is much better. No one, especially me, was very satisfied with the cover I made. It was too big....bulky and took up too much room.

Now some might think that when the monitor is positioned upright, it would obstruct my vision to the right. As it turns out, the thickness of the monitor is thin enough and is directly in line with the post on that side of the dash, so it doesn't change any vision on that side.

This is probably the last change to the computer instal, ........unless I get any more suggestions.

Cheers,

Jack

Coach Modifications

2009-06-05T22:25:00.001-05:00

Almost complete on the installation of the new computer we built and installed in the coach. The monitor is mounted in a wood base which in turn is mounted on a computer swing arm and stabilized by legs. The use of sliders mounted underneath the legs allows the monitor to be moved forward and rearward with out any problem. The arm, shown in its stowed position, is held by a clevis (hitch) pin that goes through the swing arm (not shown) and inserts into the base. That prevents any forward or rearward movement of the monitor while in motion. With the hitch pin removed the monitor will swing forward about 10 inches. The keyboard is a wireless Logitech diNovo Edge and the computer is an Asus motherboard with a medium priced Intel DDR3 processor, a Seagate SATA drive, a NVIDA 5200 video card for two monitors, one that is shown and the other one is a 7” monitor that is mounted at the driver’s side.

All that is left to do on the installation is sand the cover, apply sanding sealer and finish sanding. Then a couple of coats of oil base enamel, install the hinge and handle, and install the brass guide for the lid.

The program running is DeLome’s Navigation software that we are using. The trip shown is our next one, starting next Thursday to Dublin, Texas for the 118th birthday party for the Dr Pepper Bottling Plant.

Everybody pepper up!!

Cheers, Jack

The Rally---Amarillo--Day One

2009-04-13T20:34:00.000-05:00

Fort Worth to Amarillo
Distance: 342.6 miles

We will be going back to the Amarillo RV Ranch. We are very familiar with this park since we stayed here on our way to Alaska last year and again on the way back home.
---- When I checked in the front desk (owner) remembered us from last year (they keep good records on their computer)....said "I see you have a motor home instead of a trailer this time. Still have the two dogs?" Thank goodness...barely! So I had to tell the story about Key's adventure.
---Here is a photo of the biggest rig I've seen in along time. I guess there is either a fancy car or the stuff needed for the Count Basie Band performance. Next to the office is this relic. I remember this thing from last year but forgot to take a photo of it. I think Jeb Clampit had one almost like it. Well I'm ready to kick back and see how my man Ty dances tonight.
---We're out of here at about 9:30 in the morning going to Santa Rosa. See ya' later.

The Dentist, The Dog Park and "The Rally".

2009-04-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

---We leave for The Rally in Albuquerque in the morning and I think we are ready. We'll get most everything loaded today but as usual, bags of stuff are piling up at the front door ......."wow where is all this stuff going to go" I'm thinking. Our strong and healthy dog Key is good as new after some superior medical treatment and care by Dr. Bonnie Bloom of the I-20 Animal Medical Center in Arlington, Texas. When Dr. Bloom first saw Key, he was laying on the floor in the examination room. Most of the attendants and technicians at the Animal Hospital had heard of Key's adventure and some had actually seen the news story on TV. He was some kind of a celebrity. I expected to have to get him up and get him up on the examination table, but before I could move, Dr Bloom was sitting cross legged on the floor holding Key's head and looking into his mouth. Dr. Bloom discussed what needed to be done so I was hoping we would be able to schedule him for it soon so he would be ready to travel to Albuquerque with us. I asked when...the answer was ....right now. Wow....try that at my dentist! So Key was lead away and we returned home anxiously waiting for the call that he was OK and was ready to be picked up. That was about 10 AM and the call came about 6 PM.....(the hospital is open 24 hrs) so we left to go get him....they said he came through in flying colors and everything was great. They said they did the root canal on one of the canine teeth and cleaning....they removed some concrete particles from his teeth and gums. No wonder! When Key was lead into the same examining room that he had been before he looked kinda like he did when I picked him up on the highway after 10 days being lost.........whipped. He was still very groggy but he made it to the Tahoe and I lifted him up into the back and he just crashed there. He didn't move 'til we got home. Once we got home I carried him into the house and laid him down in one of his favorite spots and he stayed there all night until about 4 in the morning. Slowly, after a few days and only a couple of pain tablets, he started eating better, running and once more taking an interest of "security" around the property. Someone from the hospital has called everyday to see how he is doing.
--- Since he was feeling better we decided to spend an afternoon at Fort Worth's outstanding Dog Park (Fort Woof). Here is a shot of Key and Juliet with Linda. This is the first time these dogs have been to "Fort Woof" and they had a great time running and meeting other dogs. Actually, they really surprised me about how sociable they were with the other dogs...Juliet not so much, but Key got to know the other dogs, one in particular. There were two beautiful solid white large dogs, male and female, kinda a mix between an American Eskimo and Shepard. I was sitting on a bench watching Juliet when I turned around to see Key trying to take certain liberties with the female dog he was being sociable with. She didn't object at all! In shock, I started for Key yelling, of all things, "Key, get off that". How stupid! Fortunately, no one heard me but Key saw me coming and decided to give it up.
---We hope to be out of here no later than 9 or 9:30 in the morning. First stop Amarillo. We're going back to the Amarillo RV Ranch, where we stayed going to Alaska and back last year. Look for updates on the web site. http://www.drivingusa.us/trip_5_the_rally-%20Albuquerque_nm Everyone have a Happy Easter.

Jack and Linda

A Changed Dog........Key.

2009-04-01T23:07:00.000-05:00

If any of you remember any of the discussions I had about Key barking at everything, big or small, alive or not, moving or just standing still, all the way to Alaska and back......then this story is as hard to believe as Key's survival after taking a nose dive out of our motor home at about 60 mph on the Sam Houston Toll Road in Houston, Texas last month. What a sick feeling we had and the feeling of helplessness was more than I could stand. We literally cried all the way back to Fort Worth thinking of what had happened. The belief that he was dead, but not able to find him made it all the worse. If things had not turned out the way they did, it would have been really hard to enjoy RV-ing the way we have without him being along with us.. Linda even expressed that it would have been a chore to her to even go any where in the motor home without him after what had happened.

So, when we decided to run back down to Kemah last weekend, I was curious to see what reaction Key would have to climbing on board the motor home and moving down the road. Would he pull back and refuse to get on board or what? When we got to the motor home and finished getting it loaded we grabbed the dogs and they just went right up to the stairs and jumped in like nothing had happened. So far, so good. Soon we were out on the road and although I had not heard a peep out of either dog, that really wasn't a test because we hadn't passed anything that usually sparks a aggressive barking with paws on the window sill.

Within several minutes we were out on the highway and I could see the first open field coming up with cattle in it. I made a mental note that all the windows had been checked, again and prepared for the barking to begin. As we passed the cattle, we heard....nothing. Nothing! Not one peep. I looked around and there was Key, sitting in the dinette seat looking squarely out of the window, directly at the cows. Linda and I looked at each other, like "did that really happen?" With my eyes on the road I asked "What's he doing now?" Linda said he just laid down. Wow, that knock in the head must have been pretty hard. And that's the way it was all the way to Kemah and the same back home. Neither dog barked at anything while we were in the motor home. In fact they slept almost all the way down there and home too.

When we got back from Kemah, Linda took Key into the vet for his check-up and to see how an ear infection he had been treated for before all of this happened, was doing. It was fine but the vet discovered a chipped (it has a hole in it) Canine tooth which is going to require either an extraction or a root canal. Without one or the other, there is about a 50/50 chance it will become abscessed. That can be dangerous in dogs (humans too).

Friday, he has an appointment with a specialist that will determine what treatment will be best. Personally, I am leaning toward the root canal. Mainly because the recovery time is only a couple of days and the extraction will take longer to heal. The root canal cost almost twice as much as the extraction but we really don't have the time to do an extraction because we leave for Albuquerque in 12 days. When Linda and I were talking this over today, considering the cost, we both said "We don't have a choice" both at the same time. At least we're both on the same page on this.

The vet and her staff checked him over and could not find anything else wrong with him, except he had lost a couple of lbs since he was last weighed (that was just a couple of days before we left for Kemah the first time). The vet said don't count your chickens before they're hatched on the "no barking thing". According to her he just may not be in his comfort zone in the motor home yet. Maybe...but he slept almost all the time we were moving....seemed pretty comfortable to me. Also the way the tooth broke and the cut on his tongue indicates a hard blow to the mouth, so he may have been unconscious for a period of time.

So, that's where we are right now. Well know more on what will happen after Key gets to see a specialist. He is a pretty special dog, isn't he.

23 Days Til The Rally

2009-03-24T22:22:00.000-05:00

Yep, we're wrapping up things here at the ole' homestead getting ready to head west to Albuquerque for "The Rally". Of course since we have the Damon Motor Coach instead of the travel trailer now, there will be some changes there....especially after Key demonstrated how serious he was about going after any stray cattle we might pass. That won't happen again! Another big change......is not driving the Tahoe. She's gonna stay home. We have been trying to figure out what we wanted to do about a toad....a vehicle to tow behind the motor home, but we could not find the right kind, in our budget, so at those places where we will stay a few days at a time we will stop before we get to the RV park and pick up a rent car. We already have our reservations set up for those stops. Another big change (for me) is the navigational system in the Tahoe. I loved driving the Tahoe. To me....its the best car I ever drove and the navigational system was fantastic. So since the Damon has such a wide flat surface on the dash, I decided to bring the laptop (like I always do) except use it for navigation. The system I decided on is the Delorme Street Atlas 2009 GPS navigational system. Any one that has a laptop knows how terrible the brightness is on the screen in sunshine. Partially solved that problem with a fold over sun shade but the other thing I needed is a second monitor...the laptop is 6' away from the driver's seat and the size of most GPS monitors didn't give me a big enough screen. I decided on the Xenarc Technologies 7" screen that hooks up at the serial port on the laptop. It works great! I tried it out a few times in the Tahoe and actually we used it in the motor home when we went to Kemah. Here's a shot of it (above) in the Tahoe when I was going through Austin, Texas after I left the Paintball Contest. (Click on the photo for a larger view)

We've done a few other things and I'll get to those as we move along.

That's all for now.

Fort Worth Pooch is LucKEY | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

2009-03-19T00:15:00.000-05:00

Channel 5....NBC News covers Key's return home to Fort Worth after jumping out of a RV window to "get" some cattle in an field along he Sam Houston Toll Road in Houston, Texas.

Fort Worth Pooch is LucKEY NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

So Lucky To Be An American

2009-03-13T16:20:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0rQzUVQjd8

Key.............R.I.P. A Tragic End For A Good Friend

2009-03-04T09:20:00.000-06:00

We got back from Kemah, Texas Monday, (3/2/2009) but it is taking as much effort as I can muster to write this about our trip 2 days later. Maybe later there will be more, but not now.

We lost our beloved black lab Key. He was with us all the way to Alaska and back, performing his perceived responsibility of keeping loose cattle, hay bales, people, and of course other dogs, squirrels and other small animals from coming too close to his territory.

When we traded in the trailer for a motor home, he had a new task of that security and room to move around at the same time, not just restricted to the back of the Tahoe. In Houston, we took the Sam Houston Toll road around the city and along about middle of our loop around the city, our world changed for ever. We passed a field with a small herd of cattle in it an of course Key took up his usual post at the window next to the dinette and started his usual barking. Without turning around I yelled for him to settle down...every thing's OK.

At some point later, I turned look back and saw Juliet, our female Whippet, standing in the dinette seat with her head sticking out of the window. I also saw something (which turned out to be part of the screen frame) hanging loose.

I asked Linda to get her back out of the window. She jumped up and pulled Juliet off of the seat and then yelled "Key jumped out of the window" I said "What" and she said it again. All I remember saying was "NO, NO"

The window had been cracked about a couple of inches and some how he slide it open enough to get out. I guess he thought he would jump down and go after those cows he saw. The fact that we were going about 60 miles per hour left both of us with a sick feeling in the pit of our stomachs.

I got stopped as soon as I could. We were in the far right lane and it was about a 10' leap to clear the barrier where there was grass and a steep slope to the access road below. The problem was we didn't know exactly where we were when he went out. I could barely squeeze through the door opening (it was up against the barrier) but I was able to stand on top of the barrier but couldn't see him anywhere. We got started again, went to the next toll booth where we could back track for a search for him. I told the lady in the booth what happen and she said she would notify the toll road personnel to assist. We got turn around and went back far enough that we knew he was in the motor home and searched both on the toll road and the access road but could not see any trace of him. We spent over an hour getting on and off the toll road looking for him ...nothing! If he was able to clear the barrier and went down the grass slope, he most likely had been killed or injured but we would not have seen him in the tall grass. At any rate we never saw him either on the road or off.

We finally gave up and went on, heading for home. We cried all the way back to Fort Worth, and it hasn't stopped yet. Last night, watching TV, I could not believe how much of a change there is to our home without him. This was his house and he took care of all of us. I told Linda last night I will never drive by a field where there are cattle in it without thinking of him and wishing I could hear him bark again.

Key, you were such a good dog and we miss you so much.

The New Ride

2009-03-04T09:16:00.002-06:00

With a certain amount of sadness, we gave up the reins to our trusty Rockwood 33' travel trailer a couple of weeks ago. She went all the way from Fort Worth, Texas to Fairbanks, Alaska and back, a total of 10,887 miles without even a wimper. We traded her in for a real motor home. Real , in the sense that we can stop any time we want and start enjoying the RV without first getting eveything disconnected and ....well you know what I mean. This is a 2007 Damon Daybreak; 30 feet with the 10 cylinder Ford Workhorse engine. It only has 1500 miles on it. It looks brand new.
With a new ride comes a new web site: http://www.rvingamerica.org . We have some trips coming up and we are just as motavated now as we were planning our trip tp Alaska. It should be fun.

Homeward Bound

2008-08-07T10:21:00.000-05:00

Well I guess the hard part is over. Now Jack lets me have time to blog. It has been a major experience to say the least. But I am ready to see family and head for the house. Yes, this has been a ONCE in a lifetime trip!!!! We and the trailer and the car look like we have been ridden hard and put away wet. Not sure if the vehicles will ever be the same . I got to see all the wildlife and now I am ready for the home humdrum. I know the pups are ready for their freedom of the back yard. Thanks for riding with us and hope you had an experience through us. Signing off, Linda.

The last three days

2008-06-20T21:58:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. Thought I should say a view words before I forget what has happened or where I have been. First, the road to Sioux Falls was NOT great, I felt like I was on a vibrator belt!! Every campsite, we have had trouble getting the Direct TV to work, which sucks because the local stations are not always that clear. Our phones didn’t work in Nebraska. I am ready for some excitement on the road besides farm land, like animals. I don’t mean road kill. Jacks determination to see the memorial on the airplane he once flew on was a little nerving. When finally got to camp I was tired of the car, what did we do the next day? Drive all over the base looking for it. I was expecting a big place with lots of pictures and a replica of the plane. Did you see the picture on the web site? It was like a grave stone!! All the camp sites but one has been real nice. Well its walkies time for the pups, so talk later.

One Day Under Our Belt

2008-06-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

OK so it is not that far but it took forever at 50 miles per hour. All who know Jack and me will understand the things I say are all in fun. The first error is mine. I forgot the pillows, fortunately we hadn't hooked up yet. Then I forgot our drinks. I think I had way to many lists and didn't check them all. The trip was uneventful. Got a big day tomorrow so hope we can sleep with the big storm coming. See you tomorrow.

Linda's point of view

2008-06-10T18:48:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow RVers. I am the other half of this family. We are about ready to make this trip on Monday June 16. Ready or not here we go. It has taken Jack 4 yrs. to get me to say yes to this, after all I am a city girl at heart. It also took him 2 yrs. to get me into the RV frame of mind. My blog will try to make this an interesting virtual trip for all who follows us. I hope its fun and funny for you. I have to be navigator, photographer, note taker for the blog and dog watcher. We have been married for 28 yrs. but we've never been together 24-7, so this could make us or break us. So stay tuned and pray for us.

North To Alaska-and back: drivingtoalaska.com

2008-06-01T20:37:00.000-05:00

North To Alaska-and back: drivingtoalaska.com

Side Trip To Houston

2008-05-31T08:41:00.000-05:00

On Jun 6th, we will run down to Houston to visit my brother and at use this exercise to finalize (hopefully) the storage and outfitting of the RV for the long trip.

drivingtoalaska.com

2008-04-28T19:11:00.000-05:00

On Jun 16, 2008 my wife and I and two faithful dogs are leaving Fort Worth hauling a 33' travel trailer up the Alaskan Highway to Fairbanks and back. I invite all to bookmark our web site: www.drivingtoalaska.com and watch the fun.