Today We Picked up Percy

WHERE ARE WE? Norman, Oklahoma and Fort Worth, Texas

We were up and ready to roll south by 9 am this morning.  We are taking the Jeep and driving the 335 kms down to the RV Depot just outside Fort Worth.  They are getting new front tires installed this morning on the MH and then all we have to do is make sure the money wire transfer has arrived, get some insurance and registration from Manitoba Public Insurance and we can head back to Oklahoma City.  Round trip is almost 700 kms.

On the way down, we stopped at a rest area and there was this car just parked in the truck parking area.  It had the back tire missing and by the marks it had been driven there and abandoned.  There was a note from the cops on the window asking the driver to contact them.  Bet thats not gonna happen!!!

We crossed back into Texas for about the 3rd time this week.  We have driven over 1000 kms doing this deal on this particular motorhome.  

When we got to RV Depot, we were met with our name on a little board inside the showroom door. Awwww that was nice!  Our salesperson Teresa has been so kind to us and made this whole process a pleasure for us.  

No fault of hers though that our wire transfer had not gone through yet.  We called to confirm it had left our bank and was somewhere in limbo.  It baffles my mind that in this age of modern technology, something like a bank wire transfer can not be instant!!!  We needed to call Manitoba and get a temporary registration on the MH so we could drive it, but we couldn't do that until we had the title in our hand and that wouldn't happen until the transfer cleared.  About this time we were wondering if this was all worth it.  I often think that our son Derek would have loved to travel this way and while I was walking around the MH I saw what I believe was a vote of confidence from him for our purchase.  

Do you see it??

Yup there it was....a dime on the ground right behind the MH.  People think that our loved ones leave dimes behind to show that they were there.  I don't necessarily believe in that stuff, but I have been finding a lot of dimes on the ground since Derek passed away.  It put a smile on my face just thinking about him!!!

About 3 pm the money finally arrived in their bank account and then we got all the paperwork.  MPI demands that all paper work be faxed rather than scanned and emailed so we had to find a fax machine,  There was one in a back office and we sent the paper work.  Then we waited half hour for a phone call back to confirm what we sent, then another half hour for the permit which had to be signed and faxed back. While I waited, I slipped across the street to Whataburger for our supper.  We figured it will save us stopping later on.

Our first meal in Percy

We headed into the RV store and purchased an Electrical management system to protect our rig from crazy power.  We need one in Mexico for sure.

Now everyone at the RV place goes home at 6 pm and at 5:50 we still had not received our temporary registration.  At 5:55 it arrived and we were set!!!  We hooked up the Jeep and away we went on our 4 hour trip back to Norman Oklahoma.

Percy handled the Jeep like nobodies business and we had a tough time staying under 70 mph on the interstate.

No time at all and we were back in Oklahoma again.

The kids sent us a picture of their dining out experience.  They didn't come with us but stayed home and took care of Archie and did some touring on a city bus.  It didn't look like Archie was much of a problem.

When we got home Ed and Lessie and the kids were waiting for us to see the inside.  Here are a few pictures for now.  The kids have already moved their stuff in and will be sleeping in here until we get home.

Some people have been asking why we bought a new motorhome.  Did we not like the Ponderosa or what is the reason.  The reason(s) are that we have been looking to downsize for a couple years now.  As we grow older the big old 40 ft pusher will become more cumbersome to drive and park.  It is 22 years old and although it has less than 100000 miles, it is aging.  Things are starting to wear a bit although it has lots of life left in it.  We have grandkids that like to visit and we had no beds in the Ponderosa other than our bed.  The new one has a drop down bunk and the dining area for beds so we can have them over for the night.  And it doesn't have a lot of room for the unnecessary stuff so we can get rid of what we have accumulated.  It will be a bit of a cleansing for us.  We feel good about what we are doing and believe it will keep us on the road for a lot longer.  Will we miss the Ponderosa....yes we will, but we will adapt to this one soon enough.  We will keep the old one for the summer unless someone really wants to buy it.  We will see.  So for now its bed time.  Good Nite!!!