After leaving the bottom of Texas, I stopped for several days in Bastrop, to avail myself to a couple of hot showers, after which, I continue eastward into the Wet Side.

I drive to Natchez, Mississippi but find the visitors center not allowing overnight parking. So, I then drive up the trace all along noticing how wet it is every where and it even rains at night often during my drive on this side of the Climate Divide. I then pull off of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tupelo, Mississippi to await for the weekend meeting and the rain begins to fall profusely. The next morning, I return to driving north on the Trace and stop at Meriwether Lewis campground only to find it gated closed. Leaving the Trace, I drive to Columbia, Tennessee to overnight. Driving from Columbia, I go to Ardmore, Tennessee to visit Joe and Sarah in their new homestead and only after a couple of days, I am forced southward out of Tennessee by an Arctic Blast.

Thinking to avoid the cold temperatures, I drive south again in order to return to the bottom of Texas but this Blast extends over the entire continent, even freezing the no-freeze zone in the Rio Grande valley. This is something that has never happened to this extent before. These truly are perilous times hard to deal with. (2 Timothy 3:1)

Immediately after the cold evaporates, south Texas warms back up to the mid to high eighties and I resume the northbound migration, first to northeast Texas and a short trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas for some soak time, then back into northeast Texas to continue my sojourn awaiting the spring temperatures to rise and cause me to migrate further northbound.

Too, it is during these weeks of sojourning in north Texas when I cross the climate divide once again back into the Dry Side.

Awake, walk inside the d-mart for the mens room and to buy groceries, then back to the jammer and drive across the street to the w-mart for coffee. At nine-thirty this morning, I connect to the Airport Harlingen congregation for the ministry meeting with the need to tell the presiding overseer here that I will be going to the circuit overseers visit at my home congregation in Oak Harbor, Washington. Then the zoom meeting begins and after we watch a video, I begin my letter writing. At eleven-thirty, I break away to connect to the Oak Harbor weekend meeting and the circuit overseers talk.

After the meeting, I drive to the af-mart to gas-up, then north again on the Natchez Trace Parkway for one hundred and thirty miles and off of the Trace to camp at Meriwether Lewis campground. I drive into the park, then all the way to the campground in the back only to find a barricade across the roadway. So, I leave the park and drive to Columbia, Tennessee, locate the w-mart and then pound keys to update my journal entry. Joann, from Oak Harbor, Washington calls to tell me the latest going on there on the island. We talk on the computer for a while and afterwards, I drive across the highway to the d-mart and park for the night.

Awake, walk into the d-mart for the mens room, then back out to the jammer, drive across SH 50 to the w-mart for a cup of coffee and theb sit in the jammer to pound keys until about eleven this morning before continuing on my way to visit Joe and Sarah.

When I leave Columbia, Tennessee, I drive south on SH 50, a highway that I have driven many of times over the decades, however, this journey, I soon turn right on US 31, which is another highway here in Tennessee that I have frequented in times past. I will continue south on US 31 nearly all the way to the Alabama state line where I turn left, cross under IH 35 and drive to the new home of Joe and Sarah. I drive into the driveway and Joe approaches me and we shake hands then hug. He then introduces me to his worker and soon, a conversation about the Bible begins, after which Ryan leaves to go back to Spring Hill and Joe and I sit in the garage to continue our conversation.

Later, Sarah calls us in for supper which she has made salmon burgers with grilled onion, sliced tomatoes and avocados, and slices of bacon, of which I have two servings. Afterwards, I am so full and soon, I beg my leave and retire to the jammer for the night.

Awake, dress in my fall blues, turn on my computer and begin my journal entry for today. I continue here at the farm in Lewter Hollow awaiting for a SIM card for my phone so that I can continue to have internet while on the road, and it should be coming any day now. I am writing in my journal when Joe knocks on the outside of the window and when I open the window, he hands in a cup of coffee. I immediately turn off the computer, step outside and begin walking and talking with him. We then go into the garage and discuss what he is going to do today, that is try to install the three heat pump units in the upper level inside the garage. After a second cup, we both start working on understanding the steps of this installation, which actually seems very easy.

Later, Ryan arrives and Joe assigns him a job to do today and he gets to work, while Joe and I get to work installing the first unit, the one in the middle position, as which time, Ryan leaves. We end up having to go to town for a saw blade and continue working most all of the day until all three units have been fitted into their place. Finally, when we are done working, I tell Joe that I need to get into the horizontal so that I can get my pain to stop and he tells me that he will call me on my phone when supper is ready. At seven, I get the dinner call, then walk back into the garage, up the stairs into the fifth-wheel and after a prayer begin eating bison burgers.

I do not last long after eating and then excuse myself, return to the jammer and then get ready for my evening in the horizontal. However, I first complete the journal entry before the horizontal and then I read some in the Bible before I close my eyes. I am really tired from the ladder climbing today. Tomorrow, I will not wait too long before I leave out southward to stay ahead of the upcoming arctic front that has been forecast to arrive here tomorrow evening.

Awake, dress in my fall blues, turn on the computer and begin my journal entry for today as I await for Joe to come out with a cup of coffee.

When he comes out, he has two cups, he is sipping on one and hands me the second. I turn off the computer and step out to talk with him. We go back to the garage and sit down to talk for a while. A little while later, Sarah wakes up and I go in to tell her good bye as well. Afterwards, Joe walks me back to the jammer, I then climb into the driver seat, start the jammer engine and drive from the farm southward into Alabama, stopping at the w-mart in Athens, Alabama where I get online and install the new sim card into my phone and connect to the provider.

However, I can not get the Data to come on, only the phone service, so I contact the provider and ask for help. After about a half hour, even the service manager can not get the Data to begin and tells me that she will get one of there tech managers to give me a call, to which I say ok. Thus, to stay ahead of the arctic front, I leave out of Athens, Alabama, drive south on IH 65 to Birmingham, Alabama, then west on IH 20, continue through Tuscaloosa and then all the way to the Mississippi state line, cross into Mississippi and drive to Meridian where I locate a d-mart and drive to it.

Once I am in the parking lot, it is too late for me to pound keys, plus I am really tired, so I just climb into the rear of the jammer and pull the covers over me. The temperature has already dropped considerable even here.

Awake, dress in my fall blues, drive closer to the d-mart entrance and go inside for the mens room. Then, I walk back to the jammer and drive out of the parking lot to find a ff-mart to purchase a senior cup of coffee. Once I have a cup of hot, I get on IH 20 and begin the drive west through the rest of Mississippi, through Jackson, Vicksburg and across the Mississippi river bridge into Louisiana. I continue west on IH 20 through Shreveport and into Texas to exit 683 and then turn north on SH 134 to Karnack where I turn right on SH 2606 and drive just less than a mile to Caddo Lake State Park where I get a day pass so that I may take a hot shower, after which, I take some photos of the park and lake. After a short stay in this state park, I pack out so that I might continue southward to the warmer portions of Texas.

Leaving the state park, I connect with SH 43 and drive southwest, first through Marshal, then Tatum, Texas and arrive at Henderson, where I turn south on US 258. I continue on US 259 where it merges with US 59 north of Nacogdoches, the on the west loop around Nacogdoches, continue south on US 59 to Lufkin, then the east loop around Lufkin and just as it is reconnecting to US 59, I take the First street exit and drive to the w-mart to get on the internet. And here I will sit for a few hours so that I may join in with the Airport Harlingen congregation for the midweek meeting tonight.

When the meeting begins, I greet the friends and then it starts and is nice as always. Afterwards, I leave the zoom app and drive to the d-mart to park for the night.

Awake, start the jammer for some warmth, dress in my winter blues, drive to the w-mart and go in to pick up my mobile order and ask if the rest room is open to which the barista says yes, you can use it. When I come back from the mens room, she hands me my large Pike place coffee and I then return to the jammer, start the engine and drive south on US 59, through Diboll, then Corrigan, next Livingston, cross the Trinity river, continue south through Shepherd, then west of Cleveland, Texas on the IH 69 loop, all along having nostalgia overload because of the many days in my youth here in these woodlands.

Soon after leaving Cleveland, I cross the San Jacinto river where US 59 changes entirely to IH 69 and I continue south on the interstate highways diagonally all the way through Houston, Texas and come out the bottom at Sugar Land, Texas where I stop at a hg-mart to buy some dried fruit and other groceries. After that, I drive south a bit further on IH 69 and stop at a w-mart to contact the new phone service to see if the can connect my hot spot phone to the internet.

After another hour here at the w-mart, the phone service continues without internet. I then update my journal entry, upload files and after that, continue south into the bottom of Texas. Only, this time, I decide to stop near Victoria and check into a campsite with electric so as to keep me warm over the next several arctic blast days.

I decided to stop here because driving to the valley will not keep me out of the arctic weather as this storm is suppose to reach all the way into the bottom of Texas. So, rather than spending the money for gas to drive to the valley, only to have to deal with the same sub freezing cold, I will just stay here for a couple of days with the electric heater turned on.

Awake, dress in my winter clothing, grab my shower bag and walk to the mens room for a hot shower. On the way back, I meet some of the muster from a Scout troop who came in last night from Houston and set up tents in an adjacent campsite. After talking for a short time, I return to the jammer, climb in to the rear and begin working at the desk.

Awake, dress in my winter blues, grab my shower bag and walk to the shower house for one last shower before I leave this campground. Upon return to the jammer, I climb in, turn on the computer and start my journal entry for today. I also work on the campsite pages for Caddo Lake state park and Goliad state park.

Then, I roll up my extension cord, start the jammer and drive south out of Golaid first on US 181 to Refuigo, then US 77 south through Sinton, Texas to IH 35 where I turn south and travel to the Northwest Blvd exit, then right on SH 624 to the w-mart and connect to the internet. First, I contact the Texas state parks and reserve a campsite at the nearby state park. Shortly after that, I connect with the Airport Harlingen Congregation week-end meeting.

Once the meeting is over, I say my good byes, put away my computer and drive north on SR 624 to Orange Grove, Texas, then right on SR 358 to Lake Corpus Christi state park, arrive at the headquarters-entrance station and tell the ranger that I have a reservation for campsite number 22. He asks me if I need a map and I grab the one from the last visit and say, No, already have one. He smiles and says that he will be there later to give me a temporary permit. I drive to the campsite, plug in my electric cord and then the heater which I turn on and set to about sixty degrees.

Next, I lie down on my bedroll and take a nap until about seven this evening when I rise, turn on my computer and begin pounding keys to record this days activities. It is a really cold night, could possible be the coldest that I have ever seen in Texas, particularly south Texas. Also, in the late afternoon, it begins rain down in a light mist which also is freezing to the front of the jammer, which I have parked facing the lake.

I stay inside the jammer the rest of the day and have to turn up the heat a couple of times.

Awake, start the jammer engine, roll up my electrical cord, drive to the shower house for some hot water but the first shower house is frozen. I drive to a second one and it has water but I slip on some ice and hit my head on the concrete. Somewhat disoriented, I make my way back to the jammer and then drive myself back to my campsite. Once back in the campsite, I feel a large lump on the left rear of my head. Wow, was that a unexpected event! I had planned on driving into town for coffee, internet and key pounding but after this head impact, I decide against it and will just stay here for the rest of the day. Possibly, I might go in tomorrow when it warms up somewhat.

At noon, it is still below freezing here, so, I just leave the electric heater running to keep the inside of the jammer warm. Tomorrow, it should get up to about 45 degrees for a high and slowly get increasingly warmer during the rest of the week. In the afternoon, the sun comes out and warms the camp enough to begin melting the ice that accumulated on the front windshield and hood of the jammer. I put on my winter blues and step outside to take my garbage to the receptacle and to use the mens room. Upon returning, I climb back into the back of the jammer and resume key pounding.

Awake to a bright sun shining into the jammer, get dressed, turn on the computer and begin pounding keys. Looking out across the campground, I see very little activity going on as the temperature still hovers below freezing. The tops of the trees glisten with the sunlight shining through the ice wrapped branches. At nine this morning, I roll up my electric cord, start the jammer engine, and drive to a shower house to see if the hot water is still on. The water is on but just warm, however, the shower house is just freeze proofed and the temperature inside the building seems to be barely above freezing. I decide that this is not kosher with a comfortable shower, so, I pack out of the park and drive into town to buy a cup of coffee. What I find once arriving in town is a circus of crazies all out to do shopping for fuel, food and what ever else they feel they need.

After I find a place to purchase fuel and coffee, I drive back to the w-mart only to find it closed as well. I leave the w-mart and drive to the d-mart arriving before two this afternoon, go inside to purchase some vegetables and a few other items. After that, I return to the jammer and park for the night.

Note to Self: If every there is another arctic blast, stay at Goliad state park.

Awake to find the windshield covered with ice again, so I start the jammer engine and turn on the windshield defroster to melt the ice. I lie back down and in about a half hour I am able to drive to near the entrance to the d-mart and walk inside to use the mens room. Upon leaving the d-mart, I drive to the w-mart but find it still closed even though the WiFi is on. Like the last few day, there is not much open today, but I do find a place to purchase coffee and breakfast, however the heater in the restaurant does not work and the water quit working before I am able to use the mens room. With four cups of coffee in me, I will need to go soon. It seems that any business that tries to stay open is having problems with keeping the systems working to serve their customers. Wow, what a devastating effect a little freezing weather has on this world.

I will need to survive through this weekend after which the temperatures are suppose to rise back up to the normal winter weather that prevails here in south Texas. I then drive back to the w-mart, which is closed, to access the internet and upload some files. Too, I will stay here in Robstown at the d-mart tonight so that I may connect to the meeting tomorrow evening.

Later, I drive to the d-mart to park and here pound keys for a time longer before I climb into the rear of the jammer and get horizontal. Too, I watch another video before I close my eyes.

Awake, dress, walk to the portable toilet outside the d-mart, which were put there yesterday due to the water service being down. Then I drive to the w-mart but the WiFi service is turned off, so, I decide to drive further south to find one that is still on. I do not have to drive far, only to the Kingsville, Texas exit and find that the w-mart has WiFi service so I stop and connect. I also see a couple of restaurant that are open so I will go there for coffee. After having breakfast, I drive to the w-mart but now, the WiFi is block so I drive to the hw-mart and connect to the internet there. However, I can not access my website here, so I just work on the computer most all day.

At six-fifty this evening, I connect with zoom to the Airport Harlingen congregation. Then, when it is after seven, there is still no meeting so I call the presiding overseer and he tells me that the meeting has been canceled, however, he invites me to zoom with his family study. He sends me the ID and password and I join with several of the friends who will watch a prerecorded midweek meeting.

Afterwards, Frank asks me how many hours did it take for me to drive to Tennessee and I respond with, It took me days, not hours, because I take my time. I also tell him that I was only there a couple of days and then the Arctic Blast was beginning to move south so, I drove back to the bottom of Texas to avoid the extreme cold. Frank says, That is a lot of driving. to which I agree and say, I just do not like cold weather.

Then, I drive to the truck stop along side the highway and find a parking space, turn of the jammer and climb into the back to get horizontal. I use all three of my blankets again tonight to keep warm.

Awake, drive to the ff-mart for coffee then to the w-mart to connect to the internet and sit here for a while to check available electric camping sites and do not find any except for Lake Corpus Christi state park. However, I will not go back there when ever it is cold like this because the shower houses are not heated and it is nearly impossible for me to shower there with the inside of the shower houses hovering just above freezing. So, I will stay put here in Kingsville for the time being because I do have three blankets which will keep me warm enough to sleep at night.

The sun sets, the darkness envelopes the area and the temperature drops rapidly while I continue to pound keys and then upload my work to the internet. Then at eight this evening, I drive to the other side of the highway and wait in the long line to get a burger called What. After purchasing the food, I drive to the truck stop to eat and sleep for the night.

Another three dog night!

Awake, drive to ff-mart for coffee, then to the w-mart for internet and then sit here to drink my coffee and pound keys. This is the eighth day of this arctic blast with below freezing weather but it is quickly leaving south Texas. By eight this morning, it is above freezing and the temperature today is to rise into the sixties during the afternoon and not go back below freezing again this winter. I am so glad that this arctic weather is now over and I can get on with the journey on northbound once again. One of my pending stops to sojourn at will be the hot springs in Arkansas as this has long been a special destination for this wayfarer. Too, on the route that I will traverse to arrive there has many good overnight locations that have become familiar to me.

At ten-thirty this morning, it is warm enough for me to step outside right in the parking lot of the closed w-mart and set up my stove to boil water. With the liter of boiling water, I make a cup of tea, cup of coffee and a cup of Daystart. A wayfarer does survive!

Then, I climb back into the jammer and with the back sliding windows open, I resume my key pounding while enjoying my breakfast. All day, car after car of customers stop at the w-mart for their favorite cup of hot only to find the restaurant close. A wayfarer does survive!

In the afternoon, the several baristas arrive, and carry in a heap of milk, which could only mean that the store will be open tomorrow morning. Later, one person drives over the closed sign in the drive thru, knocking it to the side of the drive thru. Immediately, the drive thru was backed up to the street with coffee wannabees. A barista had to come out, tell the people that the store is closed and then parked his car across the drive thru. A wayfarer does survive!

I continue to pound keys all afternoon, updating many of the the campground pages and uploading them to the website. Then, in the late afternoon, I set up to resume my letter writing so as to able to mail to a list given me for witnessing in Harlingen, Texas. A wayfarer does the will of God.

After a very comfortable night, I awake, start the jammer, drive to the w-mart, walk inside for the mens room, coffee and hot water. Then, I return to the jammer, make a cup of tea and Daystart and sit at the computer pounding keys. It is so nice to get back to normal, well, not completely normal, we are still in the pandemic and as I have been doing for over a year, I sit in the jammer to pound keys, not in the dining room of the w-mart. Yes, the Bible does say at 2 Timothy 3:1 "But know this, that in the last days perilous times shall come." So, I am totally not surprised as to any previous or the next major perilous event, as I just know that these events will happen, however, with Jehovah′s help, his people will survive.

In the early afternoon, the temperature rises to the high 80s and methinks it is way too hot here for me, so tomorrow morning, I will drive north. The meeting begins at one this afternoon, which I especially enjoy and afterwards, I am transferred into at breakout room where I had hoped to speak with Frank about being included next weekend on the circuit assembly inclusion list but do not see him there. Later, I call him on his phone to tell him I wish to be included. After dark, I drive to the truck stop and park in the same spot I have been parking in since arriving here several days ago, climb into the back and after watching another session of the 2020 convention videos, I turn off the technology and close my eyes.

Soon after, Frank calls me and asks me what I had called for and I tell him that I would like to be included on the circuit assembly list. Ha asks me to text my email address to him, which I do and then receive the reply Got it! I then close my eyes to sleep.

Awake, drive to the af-mart to fill my tank and also use the mens room. Upon coming out, I stop and purchase a cup of hot coffee and then leave out of the truck stop heading northeast on US 77 towards Robstown, then north on IH 37 for a mile or two, the northeast again on US 77 to Refugio, Texas, where I turn north on US 183 towards Goliad, Texas. Upon arriving at Goliad state park, I obtain a park permit, drive to the shower house for some hot water and find that the shower house in the full hookup loop is a newer building and has steamy hot water. If I come back here, I will shower in this building instead of the one adjacent to the group dining room.

Upon leaving the state park, I drive south and stop at the Presidio La Bahía just across the San Antonio river, then I turn back north on US 183 only a short distance to the El Camino Real Custodians Cottage, a museum that I have never toured before. This building was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930s as a test construction prior to rebuilding the mission in the state park. It was then designated as the custodians cottage, one that would house the person who would be the caretaker of the rebuilt mission. Too, the custodian cottage was built in early 1700 Spanish Colonial Era style and I am so very impressed with the detail and ingenuity the CCC used to create this master piece of architecture.

While driving northeast on US 59, I stop at the Texas state historic site near to where the Battle of Coleto occured. Here, I found out more about the Texas Revolutions that I have ever learned before, so much more than during my Texas History classes when I was a boy in school.

Afterwards, I continue northeast on US 59 towards Rosenberg, Texas. I had previously call a friend in League City and asked him to acquire for me some tracts to use in the letter writing campaign for witnessing. He said that he would and I told him that I am on my way there. I then choose to drive into the city today and stop at the hg-store in Rosenberg. After I had finished shopping for groceries, I turn east on SH 6, drove to Alvin, then turned on SH 517, the Dickinson highway and drive to where it connects with SH 946, then left until this highway crosses over IH 45. At this point, I pull off the highway into the parking lot of a d-mart and set up for the night.

All of what I have driven today is well within what I would call my home stomping grounds, yes, I am back where I was reared. I climb into the back, get into the horizontal and close my eyes.

Awake, drive to the w-mart in on Marina Bay road, one that I have stopped at many times in past visits to this area. I call Carl again and let him know that I am in town and ask him to get back with me. He calls, tells me that he is at work but on his break and I ask him again about the tracts. Later, I call back and he tell me that he is home and I tell him that I would like to meet with him, possibly, if he would like for some thing to eat. He says yes, and I drive by his home to pick him up and we go to the local Cracker Barrel, a place I find out that we both like to eat at. Afterwards, he invites me in to see his home, a forty foot pull behind mobile home and not too long after that, his wife Barbara returns home.

We sit and talk for over an hour and then I tell Carl, I suppose you will need to get into the sack soon, since you have to wake up so early for work. He says, Yes, I have to wake up a four in the morning. I get up and we both walk outside, talk for a little longer and then I ask him, Did you say that you have some tracts, to which he answered Yes. Could I just get some of yours? He goes inside and brings out all that he has and I ask if it would offend him if I just take these, to which he said, No, I will just get some more for myself, but then you will be able to get out of the city right away. I told him that I will stay in the d-mar parking lot for the night, drive to the w-mart for coffee in the morning and then leave out for east Texas right after, that I just do not like staying in the big cities any more than I have to. He tells me that he really enjoyed getting together with me despite the Covid pandemic.

Wow, mission accomplished, and I then drive back to the d-mart, turn on my computer and pound keys recording in my journal the events of this day.

Awake, dress and drive east on SH 646 to Tuscan Lakes Blvd, left two block to SH 96, then east again to SH 146 to Kemah and stop at the post office to mail my letters. Next, I take a photo of the Kemah water tower which looks like a lighthouse, then across the Clear Creek bridge, which is still under construction. I continue north on SH 146, cross under IH 10 and continue north into east Texas. I drive through Daton, then Liberty, cross SH 105 to Cleveland at Moss Hill and then call Carl in League City to tell him I am above Cleveland.

Then continue north on SH 146 to Livingston where I connect to US 59 and turn right going northeast and when I arrive in Lufkin, I stop at the w-mart to connect to the internet. I have come to like this small city because where I stop, it is south of the old downtown area away from many of the crazies. Still, like all of the cities in this failing world, it is bustling with many people who I often watch going about their everyday matters unawares of the coming tribulation and Great Day of Jehovah. Even sadder, most all do not want to hear anything about it.

At seven-thirty this evening, I pack out of the w-mart and drive to the ff-mart to buy Polish sandwiches for my evening meal, after which I park in the d-mart parking lot for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee and hot water, walk back out to the jammer to make a cup of Daystart and then turn on my computer to catch up on my journal writing. The line here at the w-mart wraps completely around the store and then out into the street. This store does not accept walk in orders, only mobile orders to be picked up. The burger named What next door, however, allow everything, including dining in. This world is so messed up.

I await here at the w-mart for a call from the phone service company whose service I paid for in advance on 10 February is still not working, but I still hope this service will finally get corrected as it is only twenty-five dollars per month for unlimited data service with no restrictions on mobile hot spot. They never call me, this being the third time that I have been told that they would; I have yet to receive their call.

Leaving the w-mart, I take up my journey northeast on US 59 through east Texas, first through Nacogdoches where I turn north on US 259 and drive to Henderson, then northeast on SH 43 and drive about 15 miles where I turn off of the state route on SH 2183 to Harmony Hill and then enter Martin Creek Lake state park, drive to the shower house and go in for a hot shower. It is so nice to get into hot water again even though it has only been three days since my last indulgence.

After leaving the state park, I continue on SH 2183 and follow this back road to Tatum, Texas where I resume my eastward travel on SH 43 to Marshall, Texas. When I arrive in Marshall, I turn left on Loop 390 around Marshall to the north end and next turn left on US 59 where I continue north to Texarkana, Texas and here, I take IH 369 and north to IH 30.

Once I am traveling east on IH 30, I continue into Arkansas to exit 73, turn right on Pine street and travel the short distance to the US Bank location where I access my latest monthly deposit. Then, I drive back out to IH 30 and continue northeast to exit 83, the Caddo Valley exit, which later, when I go on line to research find this is named after the indigenous people of the Caddoan Culture who lived in this area. Upon my exiting the interstate at Caddo Valley, I turn north on SH 7, drive north to Hot Springs and stop at the w-mart so that I can connect to the zoom meeting at the Bay Area Congregation in League City, Texas, the same congregation where my friends Carl and Barbara are connecting as well as many more of my close friends whom I have from the time when I was living in this congregation territory.

It begins to rain hard during the meeting and continues all night long, only letting up a little after the next morning.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, purchase a cup of coffee and connect to the internet to check my com and wait for the phone call that the phone service representative said would come, but it never comes. Then, at nine this morning, I drive into downtown Hot Springs and park in front of the Quapaw bath house. I grab my day pack with the items I need for soaking in the hot water pool and walk inside. After nearly two hours, (the location where I parked was a two hour limit) I pack out of the pools and find that it is still raining drive south on SH 7 out of Hot Springs.

On the way south, I stop at a Mexican food restaurant for some fish tacos and I am not too impressed with their food. Then, I drive to the w-mart and download video files for the 2021 Circuit Assembly. After they are downloaded, I continue my drive south out of Hot Springs on SH 7. After driving in the rain all the way to IH 30, I turn west and drive towards Texas, in continuous rain until arriving near Texas.

I take the IH 49 exit and travel south, still in Arkansas until arriving at the Texas Loop 151 which take me west to US 59 and turn southeast towards my destination for the evening of Lufkin, Texas. This time, I continue south with the sky starting to clear up and with dry roads all the way on US 59 arriving in Lufkin about half an hour after sunset. I pull into the w-mart and connect to the internet. I like it here in Lufkin and expect it to be cool enough for me while I stay the weekend so that I can attend the spring Circuit Assembly and connect one more time with the Bay Area Congregation in League City and surrounding area,

It is now eight-thirty and I am really tired from the long drive so I drive to the d-mart to park for the evening and watch the next video for the 2020 Convention, the one with part two of the Jeremiah movie and after that, I have only one more of the two Sunday afternoon videos to watch and I will have completed my second viewing.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart for coffee, hot water and then sit in the jammer and check my com. I hear from a sister in Oak Harbor and we text for a few minutes, but I have to return to my study for the meeting this morning.

Then at ten-thirty, I connect to the Airport Harlingen congregation and listen to the friends connect and greet each other. I have my photo of Lake Patzquaro, Michocan as my background and Frank asks me where the photo is from. Then the meeting begins and is a very fast pace study of the Watchtower. After it is over, we are dismissed to go to the Circuit Assembly videos and watch them. However, I choose to drive this afternoon instead of watching the videos and have decided to wait for tomorrow to do so.

I leave out of the northwest corner of Lufkin on SH 103 driving west about 12 miles until merging with SH 7 coming in on the right and from near the Sabine river at Joaquin, Texas, through Nacogdoches. The highway SH 103 ends and I continue west on SH 7 which is the first time for me to drive SH 7. Shortly afterwards, SH 7 enters the Davy Crockett NP crossing through the center of this forest and somewhat below where I had camped at Neches Bluff on Day 807 TG last fall. Too, I can really see why this area of Texas is called the Pine Belt. The Pine trees are very tall, especially along the highway within the right-a-way and I have to stop several times to take photos. Continuing west through the area of pine trees and rolling hill through Crockett, Texas and soon drop down out of the higher level of land to what I immediately recognize as river bottom land only to soon after cross the Trinity River. Next, I cross over IH 45 and soon after that, the Navasota river. I continue west on SH 7, come to another bottom land area and then cross the Brazos river after which, I cross over IH 35 not far south of Waco, Texas. I then take SH 107 to Eddy, north on 317 to Valley Mills. Here, I turn left on SH 6 to Meridian, then SH 144 north to Glen Rose where I stop at a Mexican for supper.

After I eat, I continue north on SH 144 to Grandbury, then SH 51 across the Grandbury lake which is on the Brazos river and north to SH 171 and left to Weatherford, Texas for the night, where I arrive just after sunset. Here, I locate the w-mart, which also has a hs-mart (a new one for the appendix), which is a hair salon-mart where I can have get my hair cut, and a d-mart, all within one block. This has been another long day of driving, and did so to get further north and avoid the hotter temperatures that are occurring in the more southern areas of Texas.

I know that Weatherford is very close to the large megalopolis of Fort Worth, Texas which makes the number of crazies here increase exponentially, but I want to zoom connect to the Bay Area congregation for the meeting tomorrow at ten and afterwards need to have my hair cut.

It is after nine-thirty when I get into the horizontal to watch a video.

Awake, drive up the hill from the d-mart to the w-mart for coffee and to connect to the internet. Then, I dress for the meeting today and turn on the zoom app to connect to the Bay Area Congregation, where the friends are just now beginning to fill their place in the congregational squares. Then, a visiting brother from west Houston gives the public talk after which we do the Watchtower study, my second time for this study. Then, when the meeting ends, the friends are noisy with greetings and good byes. Finally, I leave the meeting and check the local hair salon to make an appointment.

Then, by one this afternoon, I am back at the w-mart catching up on my journal writing, but the noise level in this city as well as the large number of crazys here as well is much too high for me, so I pack out and drive first north US 171 to the town square, the west on US 180 out of Weatherford for about seventeen miles to find the next w-mart, which is conveniently located next to a d-mart with a state park just two miles to the east.

The drive today officially moved me out of the wet side and into the dry side as I cross the ninety-eighth meridian on this highway. Even so, I previously noticed how much dryer it has been when I was driving to Weatherford, even seeing some cactus and along the drive yesterday after leaving Lufkin, Texas. Today, after leaving Weatherford, Texas, I begin to see even more cactus. Then, upon my arrival in a smaller city only about twenty miles to the west, which is called Mineral Wells, Texas, I drive to the w-mart.

I climb into the back, set up my computer and begin pounding keys. Too, when I look at the forecast here, it will be cold thru Thursday and then begin to warm up, making methink that I will stay in this location for about a week.

Then, at six-thirty, I turn on the jammer engine to warm up the inside and pound keys for another hour before driving around the corner to the d-mart and park for the night.

Sleep in late this morning because of the colder temperature and then when I do rise, I stop at a ff-mart for a biscuit and cup of coffee. Then, with coffee in hand, I drive east on US 180 just over two miles to the state park, Mineral Wells Lake state park and drive first to the park store on the lake to examine another CCC construction project. Afterwards, I then drive to the first shower house so that I can get into the hot water. The water here was just warm but there are several shower houses here in this park that I could come back to in order to locate a steamy hot shower.

I then leave out of the state park and drive back to the w-mart for a cup of coffee and a cup of hot water which I use to make my Daystart and hot tea. I stay here all day with the shades covering all windows, what I usually do when parking at a w-mart, which in most cases, provides me with some privacy and keeps out visitors and prying eyes.

Too, the dryness here in Mineral Wells is pronounced, and the area is more like a desert but not near as dry as Falcon state park was earlier this year with the blowing sand getting into everything in the jammer. Here, the skies are clear and blue with hardly any clouds, more like desert skys.

Long after the sun sets tonight, I drive to the d-mart, park in the Veterans parking space, walk inside and buy some organic fruits and vegetables. Afterwards, I return to the outlying parking space and close up shop for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer and sit here another day pounding keys. I have been eating my fruits and vegetable during the day time with the hope of losing some weight, but I know that I must persist with this for about a week before seeing any results. I do so need to persist.

In the late afternoon, Joann texts me to ask where she can find a word processor with spell check. I try to help her but she seems to be having a senior moment. Still, I stick with her and keep trying to help until she eventually get it.

Later, I go for a burger called What, well so much for persistance.

Finally, I drive to the d-mart, park and turn on the heater to warm up the inside of the jammer. On the radio tonight, there is an announcement that Texas is lifting the mask mandate as of 03 March 2021, something Florida did last month.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. I also call the Hello Mobile phone service to try for the forth time to resolve the problem with not having any data service in my unlimited data plan and I get the very same response, Our Tech Department will call you within 24 hours, which for the last three times, never have. I will allow them the opportunity one more time before I write them off.

Then at about eleven-forty this morning, I begin my letter writing ministry, working for an hour, something that I have chosen to do each day this month so that I will be able to increase my time in the ministry. Later, after six, the suns sets and the night begins to take hole of north Texas. I continue pounding keys until eight-forty and the drive to the place called What.

Awake to a very comfortable morning, dress in my fall blues, drive to the w-mart, go inside for a cup of coffee and a cup of hot water and then return to the jammer to make my morning Daystart. Then, I sit in the jammer and pound keys for most of the morning. In the afternoon, I stop, turn off the computer and drive to the ap-mart to see if the set of spark plug wires have arrived but they tell me no, not yet. I also stop at the burger place called What for a double with extra onions.

I then return to the w-mart, park and begin writing letters for my ministry, which I do for over an hour, after which, I begin preparing for the meeting tonight.

When the meeting begins, I am right the with the others from Harlingen, Texas, only I am some five hundred and fifty miles due north of the city, still, I have been attending meeting with the friends there by way of the zoom app and will continue to do so as long as I am in this time zone.

After the meeting, I drive to the d-mart and park for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for both hot coffee and hot water, return to the jammer to make my regular morning meal and have my breakfast while pounding keys. In the late morning, I call the ap-mart and the wire set still has not come in. I have given them my phone number and the person I talk to says that they will call me as soon as it comes in. I resume my work on the computer, updating the website files.

Later, I drive to the ap-mart and the manager says that it did not come in, that is was lost some where in the transfer. He also says that he will call the company first thing in the morning and find out what happened. I then return to the w-mart, park in my regular spot and pound keys until it gets dark, after which I drive to the d-mart to park for the night. The noise level here in this town is so much lower than it was at the last stop. I am glad that I moved here to the much smaller town. Even the baristas are calling me by name and know what I am going to order. I suspect that I will miss Mineral Wells when I leave Sunday after the meeting, but I know that most likely, I will come here again.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com, and computer. I talk with Gordon soon after I arrive at the w-mart and we speak of his purchase of an RV from a close friend who is also a brother there in Colorado. I tell him that I will help with the legal document in the purchase of his new RV and begin searching and then writing the documents which include a Bill of Sale and a Promissory Note. Both document are state specific and after I am done, I print them as pdf files and then send them as attachment to an e-mail.

I sit outside and continue working on my latest upgrade, on that will completely change my online journal. This upgrade is one that I have been thinking about for a long time and have just been putting it off. So, because it will most likely take many months to complete it, I have left the old files in their place and begun creating an entire new set of files in a different folder, which when the set is complete, I will then change folders. Still, this update is a major undertaking but I think it will look better when the changes are complete.

Soon after the sun sets, I pack out of the w-mart and drive to the d-mart for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart and then connect to the Airport Harlingen congregation for the ministry meeting and stay on the zoom app for three hours writing letters for mailing to the people in the territory, and when the friends begin to come into the app for the afternoon meeting at one pm, I am already connected.

When the meeting is over, I then drive the two miles to the state park and stop at a different shower to find that the water is a little warmer, not steamy hot but nearly so. Still it makes for a nice shower and after, I begin my drive west on US 180 to Albany, Texas and a short ways past that town, I turn southwest on SH 351 which takes me to IH20, which is the north loop around Abilene, Texas where I turn east on IH 20, drive less than two miles to Loop 322 and take it south until it connects with US 84 and here I turn north on US 84 and drive up to the next exit, the Buffalo Gap road exit, and turn north on Buffalo Gap road where I stop at a Taco Bueno for two bean burritos with onion, pico de gallo, salsa and eat them there in the store.

After I finish the burritos, I drive across the street to the w-mart and stop for some key pounding until it becomes dark when I drive to the d-mart and park for the night.

Awake, dress in my fall blues, walk into the d-mart to use the mens room, after which, I drive to US 84, turn south to drive to the next exit where the w-mart is located but just as I turn onto the feeder road, I see a hf-mart and pull in to buy some pre-cooked beets, hemp seed, rolled oats, and coconut flakes. When I have finished shopping, I then drive south along the feeder road to the next underpass and turn north on Buffalo Gap road, one block to the w-mart where I park under the shade of a large tree and go inside to buy a cup of hot.

Upon coming back out to the jammer, I turn on my computer and continue pounding keys striving to update the online journal link system together with reorganizing the outline list. Since I have been wanting to do this for a long time, I decided that since I am driving the slow path northward, I will have the time to do it on this journey.

After the sun sets, I drive to the d-mart, park in the outlying area where other RVs are parking and watch videos for a while before I close my eyes.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, walk inside for coffee and hot water, then return to the jammer to check my com and pound keys on the computer while waiting for a phone call for the ap-mart to tell me that my order has arrived.

At one this afternoon, the ap-store calls me to tell me that my order is in the store so I wrap up what I am doing and drive to the store. Once the spark plug wires are in my possession, I begin driving northbound again, first on US 277 to Anson, and then west on US 180 once again until I arrive at US 84 and I turn north again. Once I am driving north on US 84, I continue until I arrive in Lubbock, Texas where I turn north on IH 27, a new north-south intestate coridor that in the future will travel from Laredo, Texas up to at least as far as IH 70 just east of Denver.

However, on this day, I only drive on the IH 27 as far as Canyon, Texas were I exit the interstate just north of town and pull into a d-mart for the night.

Awake, walk into the d-mart to use the mens room, then to the produce department to purchase apples, avocados, and celery, Then, I drive back into town, turn left on SH 217 and drive the 12.5 miles to Palo Duro Canyon state park.

At the entrance building I see a sign stating Campgrounds Full, so I only ask for a day pass and then drive into the park, down into the canyon and then to the first camping site to stop at the restroom for a hot shower but find it only medium warm. Along the way there and back, I stop for photos of the Palo Duro Canyon.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee and hot water and then return to the jammer to prepare my breakfast. Then I sit at my desk and pound keys while eating. In the afternoon, I pull out the vegetables and make a salad with lettuce, onions, avocado, carrots and add some oil and vinegar and eat my midday meal while continuing to pound keys. In the early afternoon, I go into the store for a cookie and one of the barista calls me by name and recalls that it has been a long time since he last saw me here and a short conversation ensues.

Then at four pm, I get a phone call from my unlimited data provider who helps me correct the problem with the service. When the date is working, I thank the woman for helping me. During the conversation, she also sent me a text which stated that I will get an extra free month of service beginning on 14 March. This means that I will not have to pay again until 14 May 2021, and then it will only be $25.00 per month. I thank her again and hang up from the conversation.

Then, I use the unlimited data phone to set up a hot spot and connect to it with my computer. Next, I try to connect to my web service and that works as well. Finally, I upload my work to my web site and everything goes very smoothly, not a single problem. Methinks, now, I can go anywhere and connect to the zoom meeting as well as upload my website files, even out into the wilderness areas, and the only thing that will need me to come back into the city is then need to buy more groceries. Methinks, thank you Jehovah, you do so provide for your people.

Then, I finish working on the pages that I have been working on today, my photo pages for the coyote and the gray wolf. After uploading these pages and photos, I then drive to the d-mart, however, the highway is under construction and I have to take a detour but it is not too bad of an alternate route.

Upon arriving, I park for the night and climb into the back of the jammer, then, it begins to rain hard again.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. A little later, I connect to the ministry meeting in Harlingen and write letters with the friends there for over an hour, after which, I say good bye and then connect to the ministry meeting in Oak Harbor and write letters with the freinds there for nearly two hours.

Needless to say, I have done more in the ministry this month than I have done for a very long time. Too, it makes me happy that I have given myself this new goal of a minimum of one hour per day each month. These extra hours of letter writing has caused me to use up all of the envelopes and stamps that I have previously purchased and now need to buy more.

Later, I drive to several stores to shop for food and other needed items, then stop at a d-mart for the evening, a different one from last night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. Then, I connect to the morning ministry and work on my letter writing. Then, I finish my preparation of today′s study, after which I join in with the Harlingen weekend meeting.

When the meeting is finished, I stay at the w-mart and update my journal, after which, I work more on updating the web pages on my website. It becomes dark really fast today for some reason and then I drive to the road behind the w-mart and park where there are always a lot of large trucks parked.

I climb into the back, get horizontal, read for a while and then close my eyes.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. I have been looking at the weather forecast for the last couple of days and it has been reporting that there is another winter storm which will be coming across the panhandle. The report says that it begins tonight with a low of 33 degrees with freezing temperatures for the next four days. I have been thinking about driving southward for about two hundred miles and have begin looking at the forecast of some of the towns on IH 20, which are going to be much warmer during the next week.

In the afternoon, I take a short nap and getting up I check the forecast again and now there is blizzard warning for Amarillo and the panhandle. Well, that is enough for me, I will be driving south on IH 27 out of the panhandle by seven this evening. I drive through Lubbock and continue south on US 87 to Lamesa, Texas, then southeast on SH 349 to Midland and stop at the d-mart along IH 20 for the night.

On the drive down, I was ahead of the cold weather, leaving when it was in the low 60s and arriving at the IH 20 with the temperature in the high 60s and it was only a four hour drive to get here, most of which was in blowing wind. Only the last part of the drive did it become more like a sand storm.

Awake, rise, dress in my fall blues, drive to the w-mart for coffee and then leave town driving west on IH 20 for about fifty miles to Monahans Sandhills State Park for a hot shower. I drive into the park, acquire a day pass and drive to the shower house, grab my shower bag and walk into the building. I then turn on the hot water and I have to jump back because it is so hot. Wow, I have never seen water this hot in a state park shower before. I will be coming back here each time I pass this way. I then take photos of the park, and dunes after which I leave out and drive back the fifty miles to Midland where I stop at the w-mart.

After an afternoon of pounding keys, I have watched another day come and go. Long after it turns dark, I leave for the d-mart and park for the night.

Awake late this morning, drive to the post office to purchase stamps, then to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. Despite the temperature being in the thirties this morning, it quickly warms up to a comfortable warm and dry day. I spend then entire day working on the journal update and stop at about six this evening to prepare for the midweek meeting. This location in Midway is not only a dirty place but also a very noisy one due to the IH 20 being less than a hundred yards to the south of me. I do not think that I will be able to comment much tonight at the zoom meeting because of the high level of noise.

After the meeting, I drive back to my spot at the d-mart and park for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer and pound keys most all day long. After I decide to stop for the day, I drive to a Mexican restaurant and have burritos, beans, rice, chips and salsa. It is not the best Mexican that I have ever had but it sure filled my belly.

Finally, I drive to the d-mart and park for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. Then, at eight this morning, I begin working on my letter writing ministry, zoom connect to the ministry meeting in Harlingen at nine this morning, departing at eleven-thirty to zoom connect to the ministry meeting in Oak Harbor, Washington. In all, I am able to spend over six hours writing letters and preparing envelopes.

After I leave the Oak Harbor ministry meeting, I play a few games of solitaire, after which I get caught up on my journal writing. Then, at three this afternoon, I connect to the Oak Harbor congregation meeting for a memorial service for D′Lee Kinser, a sister that has had to struggle most all her adult life just to stay alive. I had met her not long after I came to Oak Harbor and we have been friends ever since. I will really be glad to see her in the paradise when she is resurrected.

I then return key pounding and work until it becomes dark, drive to the d-mart for the night, park and then close out this journal entry.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee and hot water, then return to the jammer to prepare a cup of Daystart and sit in the jammer to drink my hot drink and eat my morning meal. Then, I connect to the Harlingen Congregation for the letter writing ministry and prepare more of the envelopes by writing on them the return address, resident name and mailing addresses. By noon today, I am done with most all of the envelopes and then log off of the zoom app only to log back on a little before one pm for the week end meeting and the special talk.

One of the local brothers give the talk, Have you found a Pearl of High Value? in which he uses several illustration describing the Kingdom of God that Jesus told his disciples at Matthew 13: 44-46. In explaining the illustration, Brother Pullin, helps us to seen the need to give up worldly pursuits and spend out time, energies and endeavors seeking the Kingdom of God in out life and doing God′s will.

Afterwards, I log off again and drive to the af-mart to fill my gasoline tank and while I am there, I talk with Mario Gurrerra who tells me that he believes in Jehovah and used to study. I ask him what is he doing for the Memorial next Saturday and he was not sure. I tell him he can attend the Memorial if he has the zoom app, to which he gets his phone and downloads the app. I then help him install it on his phone, after which, I show him how to connect to the meeting, giving him the meeting ID and password. I then tell him the days and times of the meetings and he writes them down.

We talk for a while longer and I tell him that he should do three thing: 1) attend the meetings, 2) read the Bible every day, and 3) pray to Jehovah. Then, I leave there to go to the d-mart to purchase some oil for the jammer engine, after which, I return to the w-mart to take a nap and pound keys until after dark.

Finally, I drive to the d-mart, park in the same outlying spot, turn off the jammer and get into the back to read.

Awake to a humid morning, it having rained during the night, and drive to the w-mart and walk inside for coffee and hot water. Returning to the jammer, I prepare my meal and while I pound keys, eat my Daystart and drink my hot coffee. A short time later, the wind picks up and soon after, it begins to rain and continues into the afternoon until about one pm when the sun peaks out through the clouds and the rain stops.

I have been here along the IH 20 corridor waiting for the latest winter storm to run its course, having fled from the Texas panhandle nearly a week ago. Continuing to check the weather map for the Amarillo area, I have yet to see a reprieve from the below freezing nights in the panhandle, at least not until the end of the this month. Since the Permian basin is beginning to warm up I will continue to watch what the weather holds and look for a location where the temperatures are somewhat cooler.

At two this afternoon, the overcast sky returns, I hear the peal of thunder and upon looking up, see that it is raining again. I then look at a satellite observation map and see the cause of the rain here in north Texas, the pineapple express from Hawaii has moved southward to enter the west coast at the Baja Peninsula, from which the weather pattern crosses the Northern Sierra Madre, dissipates, then reappears over the Great Plains and Coastal Plains in Texas.

The rains continue for a time longer causing the dust to collect on the outside of the jammer. I continue to think that this city, particularly along IH 20 corridor is one of the most dirty places that I have been in for some time. I used to think that many of the areas in Houston made that city the filthiest one I have ever been in, but now, that title goes to Midland, Texas. Furthermore, in this old system, with few exceptions especially in the cities, there are very few people who ever bother to pick up trash, but on the contrary, most just toss it on the streets.

Previously, I had decided to stay here for the Memorial but now, as far as my time in this location, I am not too sure if I will. Nevertheless, I still need to stay in the central time zone so that I may attend the Memorial with the Harlingen congregation and do so at the appropriate time, which would be after the sunset on the day that corresponds with the Hebrew Nisan 14. That date will be Saturday, 27 March 2021 which is still five days away.

In the mid afternoon, I leave the current encampment location and drive the loop around to the northwest area of this city where I locate a new encampment with the necessary amenities and resources. Immediately, I recognize that this area is so very much cleaner than the one along the IH 20 highway and the difference between the two areas is like night and day! However, the noise level here is as bad, or possible worse.

I park in front of a w-mart and continue my key pounding and later, purchase a sandwich for my supper. After the sunsets, I drive to the other side of the SH 250 loop and park in the parking lot of the d-mart for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart to purchase coffee and then drive south on SH 250 Loop to IH 20, turn west and drive the fifty miles on IH 20 to Monahans Sandhills state park for a hot shower. Afterwards, I drive toward the entrance of the state park and stop at the equestrian campsites and park at the one covered picnic table. I then get out my bear bag from my back pack and remove all of the food items, which food packages I put in my pantry.

Then, I take the food items which I have recently purchased and replace the ones I took out of the bag. Finally, I put the bag back into the back pack and tie it back in it′s place in the back of the jammer. Next, I take the food packages that are now in the pantry, open the packages and put the food in my food bins so that I may use this food right away. Once all the bins are full again, then I pack away everything I had taken out, clean up the area, start the jammer and drive back east on IH 20, then north on SH 250 Loop to the w-mart that I am currently using WiFi during the day.

I continue here until it becomes dark, then drive to the d-mart and park for the night.

Awake, drive to the ap-mart to diagnose why the engine light has come back on. When the parts person tells me it is the canister purge valve that is the problem, I tell him that I have already purchased the valve and will now install it. First, I disconnect the starter battery so the the computer can reset while I am replacing the purge valve. Then, I remove the air filter housing to access the old purge valve that is below the housing. Next, I spay the old part with some parts loosener to help disconnect the old purge valve. This works very well and have it out quickly. I next use a rag to clean up all the parts spay and then install and connect the new purge valve. After it is in and the filter housing is back in its place, I then reconnect the battery. Finally, I start the engine and check one more time to make sure everything is secure.

Once I shut the hood, I walk inside the store to use their mens room to wash my hands and on the way out, I thank them for their help. I then drive to the Cracker Barrel for a nice breakfast before going back to the w-mart where I reconnect to the WiFi and continue pounding keys. I notice that the sun that started with this day has disappeared and then temperature has dropped considerably.

After a long day, I return to the d-mart, park and climb into the back of the jammer for the night.

I sleep in very late this morning, then drive to the w-mart for coffee and hot water which I use for my Daystart and eat while pounding keys. Since I have moved from the south side of Midland to the northwest side, I have found this entire area to be quite different than the first encampment here in Midland. I have already decided that the area along the IH 20 corridor is one that I will more than likely never stop at again in the future. Despite the high noise level here on the SH 250 Loop, it seems to be much more peaceful here.

It is after nine when I pull into a rest stop on US 64 adjacent to the High Bridge over the Rio Grande River. When I check, I find out that the rest rooms are all locked, have been ever since Covid began and there is not water available. I also walk around to were there is a security guard sitting in her truck and ask if it is alright for me to overnight in my vehicle. She answers sure, no problem. I return to the jammer, turn on the engine and begin pounding keys to get started on today′s journal entry.

Upon awaking this morning, I find it somewhat cold and decide not to get out my stove, but to drive to the ff-mart for coffee and a biscuit. However, before I leave out, I walk to the rest room and find it heated. Next, I walk back to the jammer, unplug the extension cord, roll it up and put it back in it′s place. Then, I start the jammer and drive to acquire my hot coffee and food. Once I have the meal in hand, I drive north out of Dumas, Texas on US 287, cross into Oklahoma and continue on US 287 to Boise City where I turn east on SH 325 and follow it when it turns north and shortly after passing the Cimrron cutoff of the Santa Fe trail, I turn onto a county road and enter Black Mesa state park from the south side.

Black Mesa state park is not one I want to camp at and thus will not add it to my campsite list, but this end of Oklahoma does some interesting things. I do stop in Kenton, Oklahoma to mail some letters and the postmistress tells me that this part of the state is No Mans land, or somewhere that no one wants to live. She also says that many people call it the little Rocky mountains, or to use a better term, the foothills of the the Rocky Mountains. Yes, from the terrain, I can see why it has such strange nick names.

Then, I continue west on SH 325 into New Mexico and begin south on SH 405 and continue south until I arrive at US 64, the same highway I end up on this evening. However, soon after I arrive at US 64 I begin west ward and travel through Clayton, turn onto US 56-US 412 and cross nearly ninety miles of the hottest desert I have been on this year, so hot that the radiator nearly over heated, However, I stopped at a rest stop and let it cool for a time before continuing west on US 56-412 until I arrive in Springer, New Mexico, turn north on IH 25 and on the next exit stop to buy fuel. At this location, I turn west onto SH 58 and continue in the desert to Cimarron, New Mexico, where I reconnect to US 64 and begin climbing up into the Rocky Mountains. Immediately, the temperature cools off and continues to cool as I gain higher elevation. When I leave Cimarron, New Mexico, I follow the Cimarron river and up through the Cimarron river canyon, one when proves to be quite nice. I continue upwards to Eagle Nest lake and soon after cross over the pass of Sangre De Christo Mountains at just over nine thousand feet and start down the Taos Canyon on the west side of the mountains. Once I arrive in Taos, New Mexico, I look for a w-mart but can not find one, so I leave out of the city. I decide to look for the hot spring at the low bridge in the Rio Grande Gorge that I was told about but it take a couple of tries before I find out that to get to the John Dunn Bridge, I must drive down the Arroyo Hondo from SR 522 which I do and after a short drive down the canyon, I arrive at the John Dunn Bridge across the Rio Grande River in the Rio Grande Gorge.

I stop at the bridge for some photos after which, I talk to a young man named Matthew, witness to him and leave him a tract and my business card. I then leave out of the bridge crossing and travel up on the west side only to find out where the Black Rock hot spring is located from a young couple, who tell me it is down the trail from the first switchback. I drive to the first switch back and find the trial is just 700 feet down to the river where the hot spring is on the bank. Then, I return to the jammer and drive up to the west rim of the gorge and drive eight miles on the John Dunn Bridge Road back to US 64, turn left and drive to the rest stop to park for the night.

Once there, I talk to the security guard to ask if it is alright for me to overnight park in the rest stop to which the guard said yes.

I then turn on my computer and begin pounding keys.

I awake, turn on the jammer engine to warm me, then turn on the computer to go through the recent photos and a little later walk to the mens room. I talk to several people who stop here, offer my card to most, and I take some photos of the bridge from a couple of locations.

I am able to get a lot done on my web site and then I begin thinking where I will go next, some place where I will have internet access as I do not have internet here.

So at three this afternoon, I decide to drive to Alamosa, which is about eighty miles from the rest stop and arrive in time to stop at the w-mart and connect to the internet. I check what the temperature will be here in this town and find it is going to be in the 20s at night for the next two weeks and then below freezing at night for the next week.

Thus, I will not stay here very long and tomorrow, will drive back into New Mexico where the elevation is lower and the temperatures are higher and head west on US 64.

I then drive to the d-mart, park for the night and put up my window shades.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. One of the first things that I do is to connect to the Hello Mobile phone service to tell them that I still do not have Data. The account manager walks me through all the steps again, now for the seventh time, and still can not get the Data to work. Then, when the manager tells me that he will have a technician contact me, I tell him, No thanks, after my current paid service ends, I want to cancel the service. So, another phone number will go by the wayside.

It is nearly eleven this morning when I get off of the phone with the technician and then pull out of the w-mart parking and head back south. I drive back the way I came, south on US 285, into New Mexico back along San Antonio Mountain, south until I reach US 64 and then continue west on this highway. A part of my westerly drive on US 64 is one that I have previously drive, through the San Juan Mountains just last year, 2020 in April. I find this year to have just as much snow along the route and across the pass, which is just over 10,500 feet. I continue east to Tierra Amarilla, an area of desert with mostly yellow dirt, and see Brazos Peak a couple of times but I am not able to get a photo of it. However, when I arrive at Tierra Amarilla and the road turns north and US 64 connects with US 84 after which I am able to photograph Brazos Peak. Then, I continue north to Chama, New Mexico where I re-fuel, now up to $2.99 per gallon. (I do so miss the $2.37 that I paid for a low while in Texas.) While in Chama, I stop at the Chamber of Commerce to access the WiFi and check my com.

Next, I continue west on US 64 and at the location where US 84 leaves to the north, I cross the continental divide. Too, much of the land to the west of Chama is within the Jicarilla Apache Nation land and again, I see the utter poverty that many of these people have to deal with. Continuing west to Dulce, New Mexico, after which the roadway turns south, then southwest out of the Apache lands and into a national forest. Then, I continue west through more desert lands with large sandstone formations down into an arroyo, then back up to the mesa top for a short time until the road drops off into the next arroyo.

Finally, I arrive in Bloomfield, New Mexico, look for but do not find the w-mart because this location has apparently closed. So, I drive west another ten miles to Farmington, New Mexico where I am able to locate a w-mart, one that I have previously spent time at. I pull into the parking lot, walk inside and purchase a sandwich for my supper, return to the jammer to have my meal and pound keys to complete my journal entry for today.

At eight this evening, the sun has already set, the sky only has a little light left on the western horizon and that light is quickly waning. I call Gordon on my canceled phone service, since it is still usable until Sunday and we talk until just after nine. He has some questions about wiring the bus he has bought to use as an RV. When we hang up, I drive to the d-mart to park for the night.

When I check online, I see that I am two thousand feet lower in elevation here in Farmington than it was in Alamosa, which will make it much warmer here when I wake up in the morning.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, coffee, com, computer until eight this morning. Then, I connect to the Harlingen congregation ministry meeting and begin writing letters, which I do until noon. Then, I disconnect and return to my key pounding for another couple of hours. In the early afternoon, I stop and begin studying for the meeting tonight, which, where I am will start at six-thirty because a few days ago, I crossed a time line and my time is an hour earlier. After I have done with my pre-study, I play a few games of solitaire and have a sandwich from the w-mart/

At six-thirty, I connect to the Harlingen meeting and listen in on the parts. After the meeting, I stay connected for a short time and then say good bye. I then drive to the d-mart and park in the same location for the night.

Awake, drive closer to the d-mart, walk inside to purchase spring water, apples, avocados, almond mild and crackers. Then, I drive to the w-mart, connect to the internet and check my com. Next, I begin writing my journal entries for the last two days.

After that is done, I work on completing photo cropping and page creation for recent travels in New Mexico. Then, at six this evening, Gordon calls on my soon to expire phone service and we talk for as long as we can conceivably keep the conversation going, because I tell him that I am trying to get my moneys worth from the service that sold me unlimited data, talk and text but only provided me with talk and text, no data hardly at all. Finally, I drive to the d-mart, park and shut down for the night.

Awake, turn on the jammer engine and climb back under the cover to await for some warmth. Methinks, this is so much better then having to deal with the hot temperatures and yet, meknows, it will be so much better in the paradise, not having to migrate in order to have a location which is tolerable for myself. At about seven this morning, I drive to the w-mart, go inside to comb my hair after which, I step up to the counter to purchase a cup of coffee and hot water. Returning to the jammer, I make a cup of Daystart, a cup of hot tea and prepare my morning meal.

Then at eight this morning, I connect to the Harlingen ministry meeting to wait for it to start, and while I wait, I update my journal entry. Soon, I join the south Texas congregation for letter writing and conversation. Several sisters talk about being in the English congregation even though they are Hispanic, parents were born in Mexico and they were taught Spanish and were in Spanish Congregations growing up, in other words, their mother tongue is Spanish. But each one of the sisters were taught English in Texas schools and eventually came to be a part of the English congregation. Then, they relayed that it was not until coming into the English congregation did they really come to make the Truth their own. I then said, Then, what you did was change your mother tongue, to which every one agreed and said yes. I then said, I did not know that one could change their mother tongue. One sister said that when she was young, she prayed to Jehovah in Spanish, but some time after she changed to the English congregation, she began praying in English.

In the discussion with the friends, I mention that there are three Spanish languages, Castilian Spanish, Common Spanish and Tex-Mex Spanish. One sister then told me that, Actually, there are many dialects. For instance, there are different dialects in Puerto Rico, Brazil and other countries. I told her that I did not know that and that I learned something today.

At eleven this morning, I leave the Harlingen congregation ministry meeting and next connect to the Oak Harbor congregation ministry meeting. There are seven in attendance today, most of whom have been in Oak Harbor for a long time. We all have a good conversation while writing letters. When it is one this afternoon, I leave the connection and call it good for my time in the ministry today, after which I resume pounding keys and working on mu web site.

At six this evening, I call Gordon to talk to him about his shopping spree and he tells me that the sale at the store was a total scam and that he is totally mad at the store and does not plan to go back to that store again. We continue to talk about topics of how we are living and what difficulties we are have to endure.

After the sun sets, I pack out of the w-mart and drive to the d-mart for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. Then, at nine-forty, I connect to the Harlingen ministry meeting and resume my writing ministry. After the ministry, I disconnect for a short time and then reconnect for the weekend meeting, which is a study of the husband and headship principle, together with the examples Jehovah and Jesus set for men.

Afterwards I pound keys until about three during the heat of the day, 73 degrees, and decide to take a nap.

Awake, coffee, com, computer and continue working on the online journal update, now in Quire Ten. This update it the most comprehensive ever started and I will not be uploading any of the new files until I have completed the entire online journal.

Upon the sunset, I drive to the dollar store to replenish my paper goods, then go out for Mexican food. After eating, I stop at the d-mart, locate a location with WiFi and continue downloading the JW videos.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee and hot water, return to the jammer and make a cup of Daystart for my morning meal but I am now out of Melaleuca Tea so I call John in Oak Harbor and he places an order of a dozen boxes for me. He tells me that it will be there within a week. I say to him, I might just drive up there next week, and do not tell him that I have been thinking about this move for over two weeks. After the phone conversation, I resume the online journal update. Most of the morning, it feels like it is going to rain and then at one-thirty this afternoon, I hear the light tapping of rain drops on the roof, look up and see that there are just a few specks of rain on the windshield.

Later in the afternoon, I drive to a local hg-mart for some food supplies. After shopping, I go to a local Mexican restaurant for fish tacos and this restaurant rates about seven on the rating from 0 to 10 that I have been making of such food. Then, I return to the w-mart and resume my work on the online journal update.

When the sun sets, I drive back to the d-mart to park for the night.

Awake, drive closer to the d-mart and go inside to purchase food supplies. This is the second food shopping that I have done in two days and after spending nearly a hundred dollars, I have my food stores almost back up to being full, which would most likely last for as long as two months of normal activity. However, I still have need for one more shopping run to acquire hemp seed, sprouted rice and sprouted quinoa, but that will happen later.

I continue pounding keys at the w-mart and all afternoon, there is a very strong wind blowing. Later, when the sun sets, I drive to the d-mart to park for the night, the wind still blowing. I read ahead into the parts for the meeting tomorrow evening, but can not watch the videos because I do not have them downloaded to my device. Finally, I turn off the electronics and close my eyes to sleep.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and key pounding. I spend most of this day pounding keys and working on updating Quire Eleven. Too, during most of this day, the wind that began yesterday continues to blow. Then, at five this evening, I stop my work and return to look more into the meeting parts for tonight.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee and hot water, return to the jammer to make my Daystart and sit in the jammer to eat my breakfast and pound keys, which I continue to do most of the day.

Shortly after sunset, I move to the d-mart to watch videos and read for a while before I get horizontal for the night.

Awake, drive to the new w-mart store which is across the street from the overnight location and go in for coffee. I see one couple sitting at at table and ask the barista if dining in is allowed here and she answers, Yes, were are allowed to have fifty percent occupancy. I walk out to the jammer, gather my computer and all my computer accessories which I stuff into my computer bag and then walk back into the cafe. After setting up at one location, methinks that it has been a really long time since being allowed to sit inside of the w-mart to work on my computer.

Upon checking, I find that there was a brief time during the end of August last year when I find a cafe open for dine in Alamosa, Colorado on Day 744 TG. However, that was short lived during this pandemic and previously, it was as far back as March 2020 that I was able to sit inside of a coffee house and pound keys. Yes, it really feels strange to be able to sit inside of the w-mart while I work on my computer.

Later this morning, I drive to the bank and cash my stimulus check and afterwards, I return to the w-mart to pound keys again. Later, Angela Joanne arrives to say hello but has to leave for an appointment. Soon after Angela stops by for a short visit and right after she leaves, Joanne and Gertraud walk in to visit for a little while. After they leave, I return to pounding keys.

At four this afternoon, John calls me to tell me that my shipment of tea has arrived and I leave immediately for his house to pick up my order of two dozen packages of tea. Methinks, now, I will not run out for a long time. When I leave there, I then drive to the Radke′s home to see if I can find out what the problem is with the Orange Julius, a 1972 Chevy pickup truck.

Despite the truck being nosed in and hard to get another car close to jump it, Andy brings his jumper cables and together with my jumper cables, we are able to jump the truck off of the jammer battery and get the engine running which tells me that the starting system is good. Once it is running, I drive it out of the location, turn it around and then back it into the same place, so that it will not be as hard to jump in the future. While it is running, I check the charging voltage and find it to be 14.1 volts, proving that the charging system is working. This means that the only thing left that is preventing the engine to start is the battery. So I leave it running for more than fifteen minutes and then turn it off to try to start it again, only to find that it will not start. I then tell Andy, Angela and Aaron, What you have here is a bad Battery!

We talk for a short time longer and then I pack out my tools, drive back to town and stop for a meal at a Mexican restaurant, after which I retire for the evening.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. I receive a text from Angela telling me to have a safe drive to Oregon and I reply that I am not going to leave yet, that I want to work some more on the truck Julius to try to get it running. She says that I can come over any time, so I show up about two in the afternoon and talk with Angela about what I think the truck needs and tell her that I am going to drive to the ap-mart to purchase the items.

She give me some money and I leave to buy a high end battery, marine grade battery connectors, a ground cable and some other small connectors. Upon returning to work on the truck, I get the jammer stuck in the ditch near the road. Shortly after, at about three, Andy arrives and we are able to get the jammer out of the ditch. Once I position the jammer with my tools near the open hood of the truck, I begin working on installing the battery and the cables. It takes a little less than an hour and then I ask Andy to see if it will start. He turns the key and the engine starts immediately and is running as smooth as can be. I tell him to turn it off and I go and get Angela, telling her that we have the battery installed. I tell her not to push on the gas pedal, but just turn the key to start the engine and when she does, it fires up immediately.

I pack out my tools, clean up and then leave to drive back to town, stopping at the w-mart to connect to the internet again. Later, I connect to the Oak Harbor congregation zoom meeting and enjoy the association here once again. After the meeting, I drive to the d-mart, park and climb into the back of the jammer to rest for the night.

Awake, dress in my fall blues, drive to the w-mart, grab my computer bag and go inside for coffee, com and key pounding. Later, I text Angela and ask her if I can come back and make one more adjustment to the battery cables? She says that April was planning on driving the truck to work today but will ask April to leave it for me to be able to work on it.

I continue to work on the web site and have completed the first major stage of the latest. upgrade, so I upload all of the new journal pages to the internet. Then, at about three in the afternoon, I drive to the Radke′s home and make the one adjustment to the battery cable, that of removing the tautness from the positive cable by adding a short length to it and then routing the cable along the fender wall like it should have been. After making this correction, I pack out my tools and then walk to the front yard to greet Angela about the same time Andy arrives home from work. Then Angela asks me if I can rebuild the front steps and upon inspection find that the steps just need a small support under the front. Together, Andy and I search for a couple pieces of wood and brick to make the adjustment. Then, we all three sit on the front porch for nearly an hour and talk about the times and seasons.

Finally, I say my goodbye, walk out to the jammer, start the engine, drive back into town and stop at the seafood restaurant for a plate of fish and chips. Afterwards, I drive to the w-mart, park and sit in the jammer and connect to the internet. Later, I retire to the d-mart for the night and after midnight, it begins to rain.

Awake at the alarm, rise immediately, dress and drive to the w-mart. Again today, I grab my computer bag and go inside for coffee, com and computer. Too, I bring my ministry folder so that I can do some letter writing this morning and I sit at my desk inside the cafe. Then, I connect with the ministry meeting in Harlingen, Texas which begins at ten am, their time, but eight am my time and stay with them for two hours, when they all leave the zoom meeting at noon to get some lunch. After that, it is ten am my time and I connect to the ministry meeting and stay with them for another two hours until noon my time.

Finally, after the Oak Harbor meeting is over, I drive to the home of one of the witnesses to obtain some more tracts, then I stop for a meal, after which, I drive back to the w-mart for more key pounding. The rain continues even though lightly and I will wait it out until the sun comes back out before driving south to Oregon.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, coffee, com, then connect to the Harlingen, Texas ministry meeting and stay with them for about two hours. Next, I connect to the Oak Harbor, Washington Weekend meeting and listen to a very good talk by a visiting brother after which we proceed into the Watchtower study. Soon after, the ministry meeting at Oak Harbor begins, so I stay connected for another couple of hours. In all today, I have been on zoom with the friends from eight this morning until two this afternoon.

Then, I return to pounding keys for another hour or two until Joann sends me a text and I respond.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee and then drive north on SH 20, cross Deception Pass bridge, turn left into the state park campground at Bowman Bay and drive up to the shower house for a hot shower. I am alone here at the shower house this morning and once I have finished my shower, I return to the jammer and drive out of the state park, back onto SH 20 and continue north until arriving at IH 5. Here, I turn south and drive towards Seattle, which takes a couple of hours, continue south to Olympia and then further south to Centrailia, then Vancouver, Washington.

When I come upon IH 205, I take the exit and travel south on this loop route, cross the Columbia River and travel a short ways further until I arrive at the exit for IH 84, which I turn left and travel east on IH 84 for about fifty miles to exit 56 where I turn off of the interstate highway and enter Viento state park.

Upon arriving at the state park, I find the park open and I enter, drive the loop and find many of the campsites are available. I find one space with plenty of sunlight, back in and set up my campsite. I get out the electrical cord, plug into the service and then plug into my inside wiring. Then, I climb inside and begin writing my journal entry and updating the page for this state park.

Later, I step outside, grab my shower bag and walk to the shower house for my second shower for today. The water is nicely hot and I soak for a long time. After my shower, I return to the jammer and with the heater on, continue pounding keys until it gets dark.

Then, after the night is upon the gorge, I turn off the computer, lie down in my bed and read for a while. I also watch a couple of videos before I go to sleep. The trains continue to run the gorge during the night but it is not to often and even though the trains are loud and they sound the horn as they go by, I do not wake up when they go by. I think that I became immune to the loud train noise long ago when I lived in Seabrook, Texas across the street from the Galveston-Houston run.

Awake, step outside to boil water and make a cup of coffee, cup of hot tea and a cup of Daystart. One my meal is finished, I climb back inside the jammer to eat and I pound keys for the rest of the morning,

Later, when the day warms up, I step outside, grab my brush and bucket, fill the bucket with water and begin to scrub months of film off of the jammer. I also say hello to Juan Munoz, the local park ranger, the one who does all of the chores to keep this state park clean and up kept. I tell him that he is doing a really good job and also give him my TWJ business card. The car washing takes nearly two hours and after wards, I begin my dinner preparations, my regular repast with some added chopped greens.

When this is finished cooking, I climb back inside and eat while I pound keys. When I have finished eating, I walk to the shower house and take a second shower for today, more of a long soak under the hot water. Then, I return to the jammer, turn on the heater and sit inside to continue working on the current updates. The park is sparsely occupied, I see only six other campers in the north loop, and two more come in after dark. I like it when a campground is like this.

As the day begins to wind down into even, I continue inside the jammer pounding keys until it is totally dark outside. Then, I put away the computer, get into the horizontal and read for a time before going to sleep.

Awake, dress, walk to the shower house for a shower and then return to the jammer to boil water for my first meal. Upon completion of the meal preparation, I climb inside the jammer, turn on the computer and initiate today′s journal entry.

I have been thinking about driving to the coast and camp at Fort Steven Campground because it is close, just a few miles from a w-mart location. This way, I will be able to connect online for the meetings, even including the one for the ministry. So at nine this morning, I pack out, leave the Viento state park and drive back west along IH 84 through Portland to IH 5, then south a short distance to US 26 and turn west. This take me to Seaside, Oregon where I turn north on US 101 and then stop at a branch of my bank to withdraw some money.

Next, I drive north on US 101 about fourteen miles and follow the signs to Fort Stevens state park. Once I arrive, I drive into the campground and secure a campsite, number E-155, plug in my electric and promptly take a nap. Later, I rise, update my journal entry and walk to the shower house for a hot shower, this being the second shower I have had today. Ever since I arrived in Oregon, I have been making it a point to take two showers each day which helps me to get clean.

At nine this evening, I turn off my computer, get into the horizontal and read for a time in the JW Library.

Awake just before the dayglow but go back to sleep for another hour, then rise, walk to the restroom and notice that the showers are locked until ten this morning. Then, I pack out and drive into Warrenton to the w-mart and find that here too, I can go inside and sit down at a table and set up my computer. This is my second experience since the pandemic began, with being able to sit at the table inside. I am so glad that this coffee cafe has finally opened it′s dining rooms and it appears to be nationwide.

I continue with the ministry meeting until ten this morning (noon in Texas) and then leave the meeting, leave the w-mart, return to the campground and walk up to the ranger station to secure my campsite for the next few days. The ranger tells me, We are all full..., wait, one just opened up, to which I say out loud, Thank you Jehovah. I will now be in Loop G at space number 277 until Sunday, after which, I will have a much better choice as to my camping location. I drive into the campground, stop at A-155, gather my things and then drive to G-277 and set up my space which will belong to me for the next couple of days.

After that, I drive out of the park, stop first at the d-mart for some oil for the jammer engine and some organic vegetables. Next, I drive to the hg-mart and buy some more organic food including cooked beets, fresh blueberries and dried cranberries. Then, on to the second d-mart and find some sprouted quinoa. Finally, I drive back to the w-mart, park and go inside for some WiFi and key pounding until shortly after five when I connect to the Harlingen mid-week meeting.

After the meeting is over, I drive back to the state park, park in my campsite, plug into the electric and climb into the back of the jammer for the night.

The rain began last night before I got into the horizontal and lasted all through the night. Awaking this morning, I walk to the shower house only to find the doors locked, and return to the campsite to unplug and drive out of the campground.

Upon arriving at the w-mart, I remain in the jammer to call Gordon to see how he is doing and he tells me that he has finished the exterior fiberglass repair and painting. He also tells me that he is having an auto mechanic come tomorrow and diagnose the engine to tell him about the road worthiness of the vehicle. He says that after the mechanic′s report, he will then decide if he will keep it and begin driving it cross country. I do hope the report is favorable.

Then, I grab my computer bag, walk inside and take up the same space to set up my computer and begin another day of pounding keys. At about two in the afternoon, the rains stops and from the weather forecast, most of the rain has moved inland, but it is still overcast and foggy. I continue here pounding keys until a little after five this evening, and then pack out to return to the campground.

Upon arriving at the front entrance, I see that the sign says that the campground is full. I continue to my space and sure enough all the spaces around me are occupied. I grab my shower bag and walk to the shower house for a hot shower, which according to my CRS is not hot but only medium warm.

Awake, dress in my meeting clothes, drive to the rest room for a brief stop and then continue into town to the w-mart where I grab my computer bag and go inside. Once I set up at a table, I connect to the ministry meeting first in Harlingen, Texas to begin my morning in the letter writing ministry. After more than two hours with the friends here, I disconnect and reconnect to the Oak Harbor, Washington ministry meeting and stay with these friends for another two and more hours.

Finally, at about twelve-thirty pm, I say good bye to the last few that are still connected and log off of the zoom app for the day. I then open up my website editor application and begin with updating my journal entry for today. Once the entry is caught up, I then upload several pages to the web site. Then, at about three this afternoon, I pack out and drive to the campground, park and get out my engine oil, filter, floor jack and jack stand. Next, I change into my work clothes and begin to change the oil in the jammer. After about one hour, I have this job done and out of the way, the mileage having just turned over 110 thousand miles and now, it is good for another five thousand.

I clean up, stow the old oil in the now empty container and then put away all the tools. Next, I turn the jammer around, and begin cooking my supper, another variation of my repast, only this time with far less vegetables. After the food is finished cooking, about five this evening, I put the kitchen away and then climb into the jammer to eat and pound keys. Then, at six, I grab my towel and shower bag and head to the shower house for a medium hot shower. Then, I return to the jammer and turn on the electric heater to warm and dry out the inside.

Previously, I have read tomorrows Watch Tower study and now, I need to do the actual study.

Awake, dress, drive to town and stop at the w-mart for coffee, com, computer and zoom connection for the ministry meeting in Harlingen, Texas. After a couple hours in the ministry, I then zoom to Oak Harbor, Washington for the weekend meeting. Immediately after the meeting ends, I drive back to the campground and stop at the park headquarters to apply for a few more days here in this campground. I am able to acquire a space in loop E, not one near the swamp in the back side of the loop, but one up on the higher side in the front of the loop. This way, I will not be plagued with the hoards of mosquitoes that inhabit the swamp. Furthermore, it is sunnier here and much more of a pleasant place to camp.

I drive to my space, set up my space by plugging in, climb inside and continue today′s journal entry while watching the weekend warriors pull out of their spaces and head for home. Too, I eat my leftovers from last evenings supper. Then, at one this afternoon, I lie down and take a nap, after which, I walk the fifty feet to the restroom and take a hot shower. I continue to feel that this shower house in Loop E is the best one that I have found thus far and beats hands down the one in Loop G. Returning to the jammer, it is in full sun and the temperature inside the van is 72 degrees. I open the back lift door, grab a package of nuts and climb inside for a snack and to pound keys

I continue until after dark and then turn off my computer, lie down with my phone and begin read and watching videos. I end up watching the latest monthly broadcast. Afterwards, I turn off the phone and close my eyes to sleep.

Awake, dress, walk to the fifty feet to the mens room and then back to the jammmer to drive to the w-mart. I drive a different route today, north through Hammon, a small community and likely a fishing village. I see a lighthouse in town and stop to photograph it. Then I, continue on to the cafe for a cup of coffee and a spinach feta and egg wrap. Then, about eleven this morning, it begins to rain. I spend my time in the cafe uploading all the work that I did yesterday when I was at the campsite. After that, I continue working on my computer until the early afternoon, when I pack out and head back to the campground for the day.

When I arrive back in the campsite, I grab my shower bag and towel and head to the shower house for some hot water, after which, I climb into the jammer, get comfortable and have an apple. It is still raining, constant and at a heavy pace. It is suppose to continue tonight but should stop by tomorrow morning and then be clear, or at least much better for two days. I do not like constant rain, neither do I like it humid like on the Texas coast most of the year. The location has a lot of amenities but it is prone to rain, so I will think twice again before coming here again, especially in the spring.

The rain stops late tonight but the trees continue to drip for a very long time, and then later when awaking during the early morning hours, the sound of the dripping trees has stopped. Yeah! I am looking forward to a couple of rainless days.

Awake, walk to the mens room and then return to the jammer to unplug and roll up my extension cord. Next, I drive out of the campground, take the northern route through Hammon, Oregon and arrive at the w-mart for my cup of coffee, com and computer.

As I spend the day pounding keys on my computer, recording the photos of past years, I watch as outside, the day turns from grey and bleak to wonderfully sunny and cheery. It really cheers me for the sun to be out and shining thus, so much so that I am able to get a lot of work done on my computer this day.

Then, as the sun begins to set, I pack out of the cafe, drive to the campground and plug in for the night. I then spend a short time reading in the Bible and next watch a couple of videos. Finally, I turn off my phone and close my eyes.

Awake, dress, and then drive to the w-mart for a large cup of pike to take with me as I leave Fort Stevens before the shower house opens for the day. I have been thinking about where I want to go next and by this morning I have concluded that my next campground overnight will be at Lapine state park south of Bend.

So, I put in the destination in my GPS and it want me to drive back through to Portland, then south on IH 5 to Salem, then east on SH 22 to US 20 and east over Santiam Pass to Bend and south on US 97. However, I did not want to go back to Portland, let alone spend any time driving in IH 5, so I added a couple of locations to my route. I selected the w-mart in Newport as my first location which will take me on US 101 south, but I will turn east on US 20 just before I am able to see the Yaquina Bay Bridge. So, the drive today is along the coast highway down through northern Oregon stopping several times to photograph the grand coastal views including Terrible Tilly, Neahkahnie Mountian, Boiler Bay, and lastly, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

Upon getting out of the jammer to photograph the view, I greet a man and his young daughter. I turn to look westward and see what I think is a ship on the horizon but when I zoom in with my camera, I realize that it is instead the lighthouse known as Terrible Tilly.

Upon finding out that it is not a ship, I turn to the two and say, that is not a ship but a lighthouse, to which the man says that he also thought it was a ship. I tell the two of them, that the lighthouse is Terrible Tilly

The little girl repeats the words, Terrible Tilly except with what appears to be a question mark on her face. I ask, Would you like to hear a story about how it came to be called Terrible Tilly? to which she shakes her head and says yes. I turn to her father and he also shakes his head yes.

Then, my story telling begins which the little girl really enjoys. I tell her father that I have a lot of stories, that I record many of then on my website and offer him one of my business cards, which he takes. They he says good bye and tells me that they are next going to the aquarium.

I continue south from that location stopping at each of the other views to take photos, then turn east on US 20 in Newport and continue past Corvalas, then across, but not onto IH 5, through Lebanon, Sweet Home and up to Santiam Pass and stop several times to take photos of Three Finger Jack, Mount Washington, the Three Sisters, and finally arrive in Bend, Oregon, turn south on US 97, drive past but do not stop in Sunriver, Oregon and finally turn of at the exit for Lapine state park.

I drive to the very back loop, the south loop and drive to campsite number 15, back in and claim it for my own for the night. I plug in and at first begin to cook supper, but then stop, grab my shower bag and towel and walk to the shower house thinking that if this campground closes the shower house early, like Fort Stevens does, then I might miss out on getting my shower for this day. Yes, it was closed this morning when I left there. Methinks, a primary reason I come to Oregon to camp, besides it being free, is to get my fill of hot showers. After my shower, I then return to the jammer, begin my supper, a pot of my repast with Brussels Sprouts added to the pot. This is the first time that I have cooked my repast with this vegetable and I hope that I like it.

After eating, I step outside of the jammer and greet my next door neighbor, a couple out for a short trip to try out their trailer for the first time this year. A conversation ensues and soon after, I ask them, Are you Bible Readers? to which the woman looks at her husband and then back to me and says Yes! Then, I try to develop the theme, Living on Earth forever. This is a subject that I have been working on for some time and even though the man is somewhat standoffish, the woman seems to confer with what I am talking about, so much so, that when the conversation is over, she grabs a book and walk towards me saying, This is what I have recently begun to read, it being about Jesus the Nazarene from the eyes of a Jewish person. I look at it and then offer her my business card, show her the one paper copy of of my book that I have and tell her that a digital version is available on my website. She thanks me, says good bye and then returns to here trailer.

I return to my vehicle, climb inside and then begin writing today′s journal entry. Afterwards, I thank Jehovah for a wonderful day and retire to the horizontal.

Awake, dress, and begin getting ready to drive to town to gain access to the internet and the zoom meeting for ministry, but then, I decide to look at my new data phone service to see if it is available here. To my surprise, I find that I do have service, however, it is only two bars. Even so, it is enough to use for the zoom meeting and I will not have to leave and go into town. Shortly after, the range comes by to tell me that campsite fifteen is reserved for tonight but site sixteen is available if I want it. I tell him that I will take it, unplug, move the jammer over one space and plug back in.

It is seven-thirty this morning, so I then check to see if I can connect to the Harlingen, Texas zoom meeting and I am able to connect immediately. So, I put on my tie, turn on my video, greet the friends and begin working on writing letters for the next batch of mail I will soon receive addresses for.

I do so enjoy my time with the friends from Texas and in less than two hours, I say good by and then zoom to Oak Harbor, Washington to join the ministry zoom meeting there. When I tell the group that I could use another ten addresses, Audrey says that she will text some to me. I just a few minutes my phone beeps to notify me that I have a text and when I check, it is the addresses that Audrey had sent to me. I stay here with the friends until shortly after noon and then say good bye, log off of the zoom and then take of my tie.

I also change into my regular clothes and get out my hammer to use for splitting the two large pieces of firewood that was left in this space. After a short time, I now have enough firewood for a nice fire tonight. I then have my lunch of leftovers from last evening while I catch up on journal writing. Finally, I resume work on the web site pages and when it becomes dark, I walk to the shower house for some hot water.

Awake, dress and begin walking to the mens room when I see the ranger driving the loop, so I approach him and ask if he has a site open for me to take. He says, No, thane site is full for the weekend, but let me look, and he walks back to the truck, grabs his pad, looks and then says, We do have the ADA space in north loop, and since you have a veteran access pass, you qualify. It is available for four days if you would want it, to which I reply, I will move there this morning. I ask his man to which he says Justin and then I thank him for his help.

Then, I drive to the north loop, park in space 124 and set up. I check for my data connection but it just is not strong enough for me to access the internet. So, because of not having internet, I will not stay here for the weekend, but instead I will drive to Bend, Oregon where there is WiFi access but for now, I will stay here until noon, which I have already paid for so that I may pound keys and take a shower. After my shower, I drive out of the park, then turn north on US 97 and drive twenty miles to Bend, Oregon where I stop at a w-mart so that I can connect to the internet.

I have trouble access to my web server but I keep trying and finally, after nearly half an hour, I am able to connect. I then upload my files and photos to the web site, then I resume pounding keys. Later, I leave the w-mart in search of a place to overnight, drive out the south side of town and come upon an area of national forest where it looks like a lot of homeless people are living. I choose not to camp in this area but drive back to town and find a nice quite section in town with few homes but roads that have been built for future growth.

I pull of on one avenue where there are pull out along the side of the road designated for parking, park the jammer, put up the window shades and get ready for my evening. It is already quite cold outside, so I get my second blanket ready just in case it becomes colder.

I then watch a few videos and finally close my eyes.

Awake to another cold morning, but without the electric heater plugged in at the state park, the cold inside the jammer is tough to deal with. Nope, I do not like the high desert in the spring, except when I am plugged in at a state park. I slowly get dressed and then drive to the w-mart, just under one mile away, grab my computer bag and go inside for my morning cup of coffee.

Later, I connect to the Oak Harbor ministry meeting and begin writing letters with the friends there. There is lots of both serious and comical conversation during the entire time. My microphone for some reason is not working and I have to write notes to comment.

After the meeting, I resume my work on the web site and at the same time continue on a text conversation with Gordon in Loveland, Colorado. At about six this evening, I get really tired and my back is hurting from sitting all day, so I get up and walk out to the jammer to get a package of blueberries that I had purchased.

I continue until seven-thirty when I pack out, drive to a Mexican for a couple toastadas, and then drive to the same location I was at last night to park again for this night. After I eat, I climb into the back and get into the horizontal.

Awake, drive to the w-mart and go inside for a cup of coffee and a cup of hot water. Then, I walk back outside to use the WiFi to get on line in the jammer. This way, it will not be so noisy with the loud music and people talking when I turn on my microphone. This works fairly well and the signal is somewhat strong even though it fluctuates a couple of times. I connect to Harlingen at eight and stay with them for two hours in the ministry, then connect with Oak Harbor for the weekend meeting.

After spending the morning in the letter writing ministry and then the weekend meeting, I then pack out of the w-mart and begin my journey to the Great Basin desert, well, at least the extreme western edge of the desert basin at Goose Lake state park where I hope to use up the three remaining nights of free camping here in Oregon.

After the meeting, I pack out, drive south on US 97 out of Bend, continue until La Pine, Oregon where I take SH 31 southeast on the Oregon Outback Scenic Route.

This route takes me first through an old growth forest of Douglas fir trees in mostly flat terrain but the the terrain changes to hills with distant mountains surrounding about. Next, the trees give way to a more desert like ground cover and the mountain become more prominent with the Fort Rock showing up on the north horizon.

I stop at one of the kiosk to find out what this rock is and find out it is an isolate volcanic tuff ring with the southern rim broken by the waves of an ancient lake, the same pluvial lake that covered most all of this area, maybe even the entire Great Basin. Continuing south on SH 31, I pass several more of the endorhic lakes, those which are londlocked and have no outlet to the ocean. Most of the ones that I see along this route are very low, some even without water but only have some marshy areas. Much of the water is being used to irrigate farm land in the nearby surrounds leaving the lake bed nearly all dry. Still runoff and sno wmelt from most spring times bring the water levels back up somewhat.

I continue south on SH 31 until I arrive at US 395 at which I turn right and drive south to Lakeview and just like the last time I drove to Goose Lake state park, I do not stop in Lakeview but drive straight through to the campgound I set up in space number 16, the same one as when I was here in September 2019.

I do not cook tonight but instead, eat from my canned and packaged food and afterward, read for a while before turning in for the night.

Awake to a cold morning, dress in my fall blues, grab my shower bag and walk to the shower house for some nice hot water to soak in. Afterwards, I return to the jammer, get out my stove and make a cup of coffee, cup of tea and a cup of Daystart. Once my meal is prepared, I stow the kitchen, climb inside the jammer an eat while I pound keys and continue pounding keys all morning because the temperature remains below fifty degrees. By noon, I check the temperature and find that it has just reached sixty degrees, so I climb outside and begin to wash the jammer, it having about two weeks of dirt from the rain on the coast to the dusty roads in Bend, Oregon and the long drive from Bend to here. Upon completion of the wash job, I get out a towel to wipe it down to remove the water spots.

The, I walk to the mens room and on the way back, I meet Cory with his silver Labrador retriever, Luna. We talk for a time and I find out his was a Marine and is also disabled from his time in the military. He has been traveling on the dirt road in the outback of southeastern Oregon and stopping at some of the remote hot springs. I had not realized that there were so many hot springs in this region. I tell Cory that I will have a campfire tonight and that he is welcome to come and enjoy it with me.

Just before sunset, the two sandhill crane that have been making a lot of noise in the nearby field, both yesterday and this morning, start up again, but this time they also begin to dance with one another. I walk toward the sound, then Cory comes the same direction and a couple in another RV comes out to join us. Together, we all decide that the cranes are doing a matting dance, while I begin to take some photographs. We watch them for about half an hour and then the sun sets which puts and end to their ritual. I walk back to the jammer to light my fire and soon after, Cory arrives and we sit and talk for about an hour before the fire dies down. He walks back to his camp and I climb into the jammer and begin cropping the photos of the cranes. They are not the best because of the distance that I took the photos from, but they will be good enough until the next time.