Big Spring, the truck is back!

We had a nice day at camp today.  First thing, we had a cat visit us.  Came in the back door and wanted to check us out.  Once it found Callahan it beat a quick exit.  It was gone when Cal noticed the scent.  He had quite a time following that scent around the camper!
We went out for a good walk.  Might have been 3 miles around the neighborhood.  More horses, dogs and this time some goats.  Even saw a few people.  It's a very odd mix of housing here.  Some very low rent housing and on one road we walked it had some very high price houses on the other side.
This afternoon the Dodge dealer called to say the truck was ready.  They sent a guy to pick me up too.  There are clips holding tubing on the torque converter, intercooler tubes or some such thing.  It seems that some of those were loose and a couple were missing!  That's no way to keep liquids inside!  I had them change the oil and filters while it was there.  It was due before I got home so this was a good time to do it.  Cost a bit more but saved a second stop.
We expect 7 days to get home now.  We plan to do about 300 miles/day.  We have a campsite in Campbell TX tomorrow night. 

"Nobody said anything about there being a DOG here!"

It's Baaaack!

From the rose garden at the camp

The Supermoon is obscured by some light clouds

Whip In RV Park, Big Spring TX

I only heard 3 trains last night.  I can't say whether or not I slept through any.  Carlene only heard 2 so apparently sleeping through them is possible. 
Once Dodge opened up I called Good Sam Roadside again.  They got a flat bed wrecker to come get the truck and he towed the camper too.  Due to the small cab Callahan had to ride in the camper.  Dale drove easy for Cal’s benefit and Cal was fine.  We think he rode on the couch at least some of the time.  Took us to the campground and then to the dealer.  He then gave me his personal cell number in case we need anything.  And his coworker lives about 3 doors down from the campground.
This campground is also close to I-20 but it's 300 yards instead of 50 feet, the railroad is a good half mile away. 
Dodge will look at the truck tomorrow (they tried but didn’t get to it today) and let me know what’s what. If it’s a bad TC it’ll be warranted.  They said if the other dealer screwed up something they can pay for the work!   Remains to be seen but sounds good. She really raised her eyebrows when I told her the AZ dealer worked 2-1/2 days on this.   It’s a 4.5 hour job according to several sources.
We were all settled in camp by lunch time.
This afternoon we relaxed in camp with some reading and took a walk around the neighborhood.  That was around 2.5 miles.

First time I've seen my trailer in motion!

It seems like every 10th house here has one or more horses.

Free roadside camping in Big Spring TX

Made it 270 miles farther across Texas today.  We had planned on Abilene but when we got to Big Spring... the truck quit.  Yup, lost speed and we were just able to get off an exit and onto a service road.  Big dose of good luck there.  The exit was right there where we needed it and it happened to have a huge shoulder to pull off.  We have the slide out and are still off the traveled portion of the road. 
The engine was running fine but the speed was dropping.  When we parked I looked under the truck and found transmission fluid raining down from the back of the engine; probably that new torque converter.  That would explain the symptom.  We are about 10 miles out from Big Spring, modest size city of 27,000.  I called Good Sam Roadside Assistance since i have the camper in tow.  But it's Sunday and they could not find anyone open.  Since I'm in a safe place they suggested staying here tonight.  Tomorrow morning when things open up we'll go at it again.  They said if they towed me today to a place that could not handle the repair I would pay for the next tow.  there is a Dodge dealer and a campground in Big Spring so we should be pretty well set when it gets arranged.
I wanted to notify the TX State Police I was parked here so they wouldn't have to get curious in the night.  I tried 4 different phone numbers from the internet and all were no answer.  Even one labeled 24 hour roadside assistance!  When we went for a walk a trucker stopped to ask if we were OK.  When I explained it all he gave me the local dispatcher phone number from memory; he is a former deputy!  (I had noticed he was packing)  😄  Then a young couple in a pick up stopped to ask too.  He was wearing a cowboy hat.  Seems like a good neighborhood.
Tonight may be noisy.  We have I-20 50' away on one side and a railroad 20' away from our door.  Good thing I like trains!  In the 7 hours we have been here at least 9 trains have passed. 



First some West Texas landscape:

Callahan has the whole back seat area with the seat folded down and his bed from home on the deck.
He likes to ride with his chin on the console.  Doesn't look comfortable to me, but...

Gushing and dripping, Oh My!
Not a precise quote!

That's camp!

We went for a walk down a rural road near us and Cal found lots of interesting aromas in the tall grass.

TX Farm Road 818, goes to Lomax

Trains!

More trains!

Wild West RV Park, Van Horn TX

About 350 miles today, and 2 time zones (in effect).  We lost an hour when we left AZ because they don't use DST, then another hour just west of Van Horn when we entered Central Time.  So it only looks like 2 hours, we are just 10 miles inside Central so sunset is 8:20!  Like summer!  Sunrise 7:43.  Going to be a hard start.
This is a small campground and pretty cheap with the Good Sam discount, $25.  Not much facility here but we don't need much.  They have a laundry that we hadn't noticed.
We have a campsite tomorrow night in Abilene, 335 miles.  No time zones so it should be a nice day.
Just a few photos from the day.

Good Bye Graham Mtn.  From the SW you can see the observatory

Some simple West Texas scenery from the truck

While we checked in at the RV park Cal got in Carlene's seat.  He didn't get off again when she got in. 
He didn't mind that at all.

Van Horn Rescue has a training facility on the main street.