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Monday, September 28, 2015

I Feel Like A Re-Virginized RV'er about to Hit the Road

Location: Highway 509 RV Park; Mansfield, LA

Today is day 80 since Brandon's stroke. He is still going to Physical/Occupational Therapy 3 days a week for 2 hours per day. The doctor says he will need at least another couple months of re-hab which indicates that he believes there is potentially more improvement available. He still walks with a limp and probably always will, but the good news is he is walking. That is a big thing for stroke survivors. He can turn a door knob with his right hand and can raise his arm over his head. There are some residual effects with his arm/hand that will also always be there, but again, he is able to move it and grasp things, which is wonderful. We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers which have been personally felt by us. The outpouring of sympathy and understanding from people that never met Brandon helped a lot. Thanks Ya'll. 
Brandon with the Red River behind him. Taken while we were riding around the other day. 

I will be hitting the road for a few weeks on October 4th. My plan is to roughly follow the Red River to its headwaters near the Texas/New Mexico border. The trip should highlight the difference between the "piney hills" of northwest Louisiana, the grasslands of northern Texas and the semi-desert of northwest Texas. My return trip will circle down to the Gulf coast and on to south Louisiana before returning to this area sometime in mid to late November. The route should keep me within 2 days travel time from here, if I'm needed. As usual, I will be moving campgrounds about every 3 to 4 days.

I began planning the trip a couple days ago and the excitement of hitting the road again has been building. I've been running through mental checklists for everything from stowing loose things to hitching/unhitching. I feel like a newbie all over again. I hope I don't drop the trailer on the truck, :). When I was traveling, I could pack up and be rolling in less than an hour, now it will take me several days. I've rearranged a few things and gotten rid of some others that I haven't needed. I have some maintenance to do on Liberty such as replacing the anode rod in the water heater and lubricating everything that needs it. I've thought about washing her so she looks good rolling down the road, but I probably won't, :). The main thing is to have a clean windshield in Freedom so I can take plenty of traveling pics. It will be good to be hitched up and rolling again.  

To Ford F250 owners: The problems with the wiring harness connection in Freedom seems to have been solved. I disconnected it from the parking brake assembly and have it suspended with a couple wire ties. She has been starting regularly for the last few weeks and my confidence in her is high (about 90%).   
Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road. 

6 comments:

  1. I am getting ready to roll Oct 5 and also feeling like a brand new RVer. After three months I have to be very careful with the hookup or I will get in big trouble. Looks like a loop over into Guadalupe Mtns and southward through Big Bend, Del Rio and maybe back to Rockport for December. I will watch for you.

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    1. Hello Barney. Not sure if I will be so far south as Rockport on this loop but our paths may cross again this winter. Be safe traveling and enjoy.

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  2. Been missing your updates. Glad Brandon is doing so well. Give him hugs from me. Get on the road so we can live vicariously through you again. Especially those of us with kids still in school!!! Have fun!

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    1. Hi Robin. I will give him a hug for you, thanks. The trip should be about 6 weeks or so. The kids will be out of school about then,,,lol.

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  3. Nice to see you posting again. I was getting a little concerned that something terrible had happened. Looking forward to your travels. I just returned from a driving tour of Moab, Utah, Utah Hwy 128, and Highway 50 across Colorado and Kansas. Nice to hear that your son's recovery is making progress.

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    1. Hello Gene. Good to hear from you. Highway 50 cuts right through the middle of Colorado. Should have been some great scenery through the mountains. I can't say much about Kansas though. Flat farmland is all I remember, but I may be wrong. Thanks for the comment on my son. Yes, he is making progress and still has a positive attitude about it.

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