We had a great time in Dallas visiting friends and battling road construction to get anyplace. Also rain which found its way into the coach in a couple of places dampened our pleasure. 

We had a lovely Shabbat with Deb Friedman and Scott Mackler going to Kabbalat Shabbat and then out to dinner. We mostly spent time catching up on 10 years and talking about our plans for the next 10 years. Given the rain and traffic I agreed that Uber was the way to get around Dallas with the least strain. It was great, I was even able to have a drink at dinner without worrying about driving. 

Saturday we got in the car and drove to Aubrey TX, just north of Dallas, to visit with Dora. For those who don’t remember Dora was the aide who took care of my Mom in the Jewish Home for five years as the primary daily caregiver. We had become quite close and have visited with her as travels and time permit for the ensuing 13 years. 

Fortunately the rains stopped and the interior of the coach dried out as we continued west with a stop in Clyde TX, just east of Abilene at a Boon Dockers  Welcome home where we managed to add another stripe on the Jeep getting out the gate. The next stop was Monahans Sand Hill State Park just west of Odessa where we arrived early with no reservation and got a great spot. The Ranger who spotted us after we setup told us we needed to stop at the office (4 miles back) to pay for our stay. We have usually arrived after the office closed and just took what we could find and paid the Iron Ranger (a lockbox with forms to complete). We needn’t have worried as the park remained almost empty – 3 other campers in the place. I had disconnected the car and driven back to the office to secure the site and pay. 

Since leaving Dallas we have been following the route of the Union Pacific RR and finally managed to camp within 250 yards of the track for a night in Van Horn TX.  This town is wedged between the railroad line and I 10. Great white noise for sleeping with the exception of the occasional train horn.  We actually sleep fairly well and find the silence of the desert a bit disconcerting.

The route from Monahans brought us through El Paso – OY. We lost an hour to an accident which forced all four lanes of traffic off onto the frontage road for one exit. Then as we got rolling into NM there was another significant slowdown costing another 20 minutes. We were very happy to pull into Hacienda RV by 3 PM and just setup and rest. 

Oh, the roof leak! We have spent enough time in Las Cruces over the years to know a really good mobile RV Tech, Richards RV Service. With the hope that he was still around, I called the number in my phone and got in touch with Richard. As I am writing he has just left after sealing all the penetrations in the roof. This is something I have done faithfully every 6 months until the last couple of years. I am no longer willing to climb a ladder up to the 12′ foot high roof. Falling would really hurt. While he was here he verified that the problem with the windshield washer is the pump has failed. If he can find one in town he will bring it back and install it.

We are here until Saturday morning. When we leave we will have three nights more to get to Jojoba Hills on Tuesday morning. I doubt I will make the 10 AM Board working meeting, but you never know.