October 23rd – 25th Mathis Texas

October 23rd  – 25^th Mathis Texas                                                                            

Total Kilometers this trip – 6835.7                                                           Kilometers today – 0

Weather has been real nice here.  In the morning it is 22 C and reaching somewhere in the low 30’s C.

Powell had two days off, he has someone cutting the hay, but he has to wait for it to dry somewhat.  We have been working on his coach, repaired an exhaust leak before the turbo, and that seemed to help somewhat with the low end power.  Still does not seem to be as good as mine though.

We also fixed a few other things, and two important ones, the pyrometer and transmission retarder temperature.  We have yet to drive it so we do not know if they work or not.  Before we drive it, we either have to install the exhaust blanket or remove it, I guess it is supposed to help keep the engine compartment cooler, but I know mine does not have it, so not sure if really required.

On the 25^th, we spent most of the day bailing hay.  We did not make out too bad considering we had a long ways to travel to one of the fields.  The bailer broke down at 17:50hrs so we called it a day as well.

Until I get caught up, each and every one of you are my special people.  Powell and Char Brown are treating us like royalty, and slaves alike, LOL, actually I am his slave when we are raking/bailing the hay.

October 22th – Mathis Texas

October 22th  – Mathis Texas                                                                  Weather –O/C 26C

Total Kilometers this trip – 6835.7                                                           Kilometers today – 0

I got up early today to spend the day with Powell working.  He has a number of pieces of equipment to cut, rake and pick up hay, corn etc.  Today we worked on making round bales of hay, I drove the tractor with the rake to pile it into windrows and Powell drove the baler.  On two different acreages we baled 135 bales.  The longest time is to drive from one acreage to the other.

Vadie went with Char to Corpus Christi TX today - shopping day.  Other than being very warm today, she had a good day.

Special Person - My sister, Helena,  64^th birthday today – HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS.  May you live many more years. (We got internet but no phone, but will call you when we do have)

October 21th –Kerrville - Mathis Texas

October 21th  –Kerrville  - Mathis Texas                                                                   Weather –O/C 17C

Total Kilometers this trip – 6835.7                                                           Kilometers today – 333.6

Drove from Kerville to Mathis TX, home of Powell and Char Brown. 

We left late, the weather was really hot, so we drove straight to Mathis, and yes it was hot here as well.

 Powell and Chars coach

 Going onto their farm

 oh yes there they are

Special Person – My eleventh grandchild – Christopher – he would be our unofficial adopted grandchild.  Christopher is Robert Aikens son, Dannielle’s husband.  He is handicapped and is living with foster parents in Chilliwack B.C. We did have a chance to meet him once when we lived in Chilliwack as well. 

October 20th –Kerrville Texas

October 20th  –Kerrville Texas                                                                     Weather –O/C 17C

Total Kilometers this trip – 6502.1                                                           Kilometers today – 0

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Rachele – she turns 7 today.

The weather today was very humid, 88% humidity and 81 deg F.  Made the clothes stick to the body.

We went to a gourd festival in Fredricksburg TX today.  Char mentioned this to us, and we tagged along, Vadie and I are glad we did.

something like a pumpkin but hard shell

We also went and checked out some of the stores – General store which had everything, and a true old fashioned 5 cent and 10 cent store.  They had so many items in there.

Special Person – My tenth grandchild – William – the youngest of my grandchildren.  He turned 4 this year and as all of the other grandchildren, a real bundle of joy.

October 19th –Dickens – Kerrville Texas

October 19th  –Dickens – Kerrville Texas                                               Weather –Clear , 4 C

Total Kilometers this trip – 6502.1                                                           Kilometers today – 503.0

Today was a long travel day.  We got to see a lot of the Texas country side, as most of our travel was on the backroads, we have been trying to miss the highways and interstates. 

Numerous high voltage towers being erected

This allows us to see many of the small communities, it is unfortunate that many have gone to ruins, but there are still many with the old store fronts and buildings left.

You know you are in Tx, 80MPH

Nope we continue to travel at 57MPH

Special Person – My ninth grandchild – Jessica – another very high spirited young girl.  Recently she and her two brothers were taken with their other grandma and grandpa to Disneyland.  Vadie and I saw her before she went and all she could talk about was that they were going to Disneyland.  I understand they had a wonderful time – I wonder how grandma and grandpa made out LOL.