Okay as promised, now that the internet has been hooked up here in Pflugerville, TX - I will tell you about our adventure in moving here. Feel free to laugh as much as you like (even though it is at our expense - we did after it was all over!). Here goes! January 1, 2015 we were hoping to get on the road pretty early since we would not be able to travel as fast with a U-Haul pulling a car and we wanted to get as far as Van Horn, TX where we had a reservation at the Red Roof Inn. We got out of bed around 4 am and so we didnt wake the neighbors, we did as much as we could inside the house and garage until almost 7 am. We had loaded some stuff in the Porsche, my car and the truck the night before and with what I knew we still had in the house (including 27 control line airplanes of various sizes), we were not going to get EVERYTHING else in all the nooks and crannies of each vehicle. Needless to say, stress is not good and as a result, some items were broken (mainly several planes). We even had to leave some stuff behind - mostly items that didnt have any sentimental value or could be replaced inexpensively. We finally pulled away from the house at the early hour of 11 am! Dave was ahead of me as I HAD to stop at QT and get my very last awesome Cherry Dr Pepper and custard filled donut for a long, long time (there are no QTs in TX)! Then I had to stop at my mothers house and drop off a dolly and book; cry again and say goodbye. I finally got on the freeway around 11:45 am. Dave and I had purchased walkie talkies to use for communicating on the drive and they only worked if I was in front of him (something about the cab of the truck blocking the signal). I didnt catch up to Dave until Benson, AZ. While driving behind Dave I had seen something hanging down by the truck or car transporter. I called Dave about it and he said it was fine. I passed him up and didnt think anything else about it. Somewhere in New Mexico, I looked behind me and Dave had pulled over. I got on the walkie and he said that some lady told him there were sparks coming out from underneath the trailer. I pulled over to wait for him and he radioed that there was a chain that he hadnt realized was there that was hitting the road. Once he secured it, everything was fine. On the way again!! Nothing more exciting the rest of the way to Van Horn except that we had to stop at an Inspection station in Sierra Blanca (for some reason that I do not know, my mom says we are supposed to stop there and spit!) I was worried that with the U-Haul the border patrol would think Dave was smuggling people in the back but both of us were only asked if we were US citizens and were allowed to pass through. We made it to Van Horn and since it was so late, almost 10 pm, I radioed Dave that I would go get something for us to eat and meet him at the Red Roof Inn (referred to us by my future son in law). I found a Wendys at a Pilot Truck stop and got in the drive thru line. There were about 5 cars in front of me and was hoping it would move fast. I even thought about going inside as it may be faster. I looked inside and the line was VERY long. Little did I know that the drive thru line would take about 45 minutes to get through. I guess the window person is not able to take multiple orders to help the line go smoothly. She would take one persons order and then make the rest of us sit in line while she gave the food to that car, etc. Anyway, I get back to the hotel and Dave told me we got the last room available as they had as they were booked! (Who would have thought!?) I had reserved a King bed and we were given a VERY DIRTY room with two queen beds. There were hair balls on the bathroom floor and the security of the two doors, one inside door and one outside door, was sketchy. By the time we finally ate, the food was cold and while there was a microwave in the room, I was not going to chance it. I had already checked to see if the fridge was working - not! Anyway, we were both so ready and exhausted that we just wanted to sleep. At least the bed sheets looked clean. We did sleep and when we woke up the next morning and went to check out the free continental breakfast. The hotel was being renovated so no heat except for a very small space heater that you could not feel unless you were standing an inch from it. It took quite awhile for the waffle maker to heat up and then had to wait for the mix to be brought out. I opted for toast with jelly - it was okay but not appetizing. When we went outside, it looked almost like a war zone! Overnight they had a freezing storm front with ice everywhere! There was no color, only dark, dreary, bleak, icy, whitish everywhere! It was sooooooo cold!!!! We still had to get gas and the wind was blowing and chilled you clear to your bones! After pumping gas, we were on our way again. Dave radioed that the oil level light came on in the truck so we had to find another gas station to stop and get oil. With the storm, the station didnt have any electricity or water so they were closed. The roads were covered with snow and some slush. We even had to be detoured to an access road for several miles due to the conditions of the road. When we were finally able to get back on the freeway, of course all the other traffic behind us was wanting to pass and they went faster than they really should have. One Asian driver in an SUV almost hit me as he was talking on his phone while driving in those conditions. We stopped in Ft Stockton for something to drink and use the facility. We parked in the back due to the U-Haul and there was ice on the ground so we walked very carefully. We were about six inches from getting onto a sidewalk without any ice when I lost my footing and down I went on both knees and my left hand. Dave almost fell and of course an older cowboy was driving right behind and saw everything! He got out of the truck and came over to help me up but I was able to get up with Daves help. I walked into the store and went to use the bathroom and hopefully get some of the mud off my pants but someone was in there so I waited for Dave to get done and then I went in the mens room. No papertowels - only the wall hand dryer. When I came out, low and behold the guy that almost hit me was standing waiting to use the bathroom. I was glad that Dave didnt deck him one after his stupid stunt. After getting something to drink, we went to the vehicles very carefully and got back in and was on our way again. My knees were badly bruised but not bleeding and I was in pain. It did not appear that anything was broken. We were on our way again with still slushy roads and constant rain, heavy fog and crazy drivers. During the drive we saw at least 6 semis on the side of the road, some of them on their side and a couple of them with their trailers broken in half and their contents in the median. There were also several cars that had been in accidents on the side of the road. Everything was going fine until we got to the other side of Johnson City, TX where you turn to go to Austin. Due to the size of the truck, there was no way Dave could have made the turn so we kept going straight which was taking us to San Antonio. I finally plugged in Madge (my Garmin) and pressed take me home. I thought I had programmed the new address in Pflugerville as home but apparently didnt. I radioed to Dave that we needed to take this one road to take us to Pflugerville so we did. It was dark and the road was a two lane, winding, hilly, road and it was still raining. I got a little bit too far ahead of Dave and pulled over and called him to see where he was. He had pulled over because the road was not great for the U-Haul so I turned around and went back to him. I found him and when he tried to pull out to turn around, he was stuck in the mud. He kept trying to go forward, then backward, then forward, backward to get unstuck but it didnt work. A car came by and pulled into their driveway and found out Dave was stuck. She came by my car and told me she was going to get to Dad to help get us out. About 15 - 20 minutes later two trucks came and they pulled the U-Haul out of the mud and allowed Dave to drive through their property to turn around. What angels they were for helping us in our time of need. Dave asked them the best way to get to Pflugerville and they told him. I asked Dave if he was mad at me since I was the one telling him to turn on that road and he told me he wasnt mad at me, just the situation. What a man!!! I could only imagine how this would have turned out years before!! Anyway, we were back on the road and went back to the highway and back to the turnoff we couldnt make before towards Austin. It was about 8 pm and we probably would not make it to our house until almost 9 and again we had not had dinner! Once we got close to the exit for Pflugerville, I called Dave and told him I would go get something for us to eat and meet him at the house and told him how to get the key. I took the right exit but Dave missed it so he had to go the long way around. I went to another Wendys and placed our order. I couldnt believe it! It only took 5 - 6 minutes to order and get our food!! What a concept. I was then directed the back way to the house through the neighborhood and got there before Dave did. I even had the house unlocked and lights on. We only unloaded my car, ate dinner, blew up the air mattress, put sheets on the bed and collapsed!!!! We knew the next day would be unloading the U-Haul and we didnt know how many people from the Merrilltown Ward would show up to help. We are so thankful for the angels that watched over us on our trip; for the angels that helped pack up the U-Haul from the Windrose Park Ward and for the angels (including 3 children ages 3 - 7) that helped unload the U-Haul. What a ride!!!!! We miss all our friends and family in Arizona and look forward to seeing them again in the future. We have enjoyed it here in Pflugerville so far and look forward to many more adventures to come!!
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 03:20:38 +0000
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