We left OVERNITE RV PARK and headed to PATRICK TIRE, AUTO, TRUCK & RV SERVICE CENTER to see if we could get some new tires. We were able to stop at an Albertsons that had a pharmacy and get a prescription filled and – believe it or not – they had a STARBUCKS – in Albertson’s! Did you ever? I could not have been happier!
We ended up at the service center for 5 hours. We waited for the 2 new tires to be mounted and balanced, one old front tire put on the back, new shocks installed, and an oil change. Eric was with the guys while they worked, but I sat in their waiting room, sipped my Iced Decaf Venti Non-Fat Raspberry Mocha Latte, worked on my computer, read magazines and admired – from afar – the cutest Yorkie I have ever seen. His name is Tony and he is so calm and sweet. He didn’t jump on you, he didn’t bark. He just sat in his little bed and looked at you. Eric and I loved him and, of course, Eric was petting him a lot. We were so impressed by how calm this Yorkie was, because they are usually a little hyper. Anyway, we wish we could have a Yorkie just like Tony!
For the past two days, a REALLY annoying alarm kept beeping and it was very high-pitched and hurt your ears and we couldn’t figure out why it kept going off. It was a signal that there is low voltage in the coach batteries and we were afraid they would have to be replaced.
Eric told Mike at the service center to load test the batteries, to see if they were good, and Eric noticed that one of the terminal wing nuts was very loose. He immediately thought that this might be the reason the alarm kept going off. He tightened it up and Mike cleaned all the terminals. Lo and behold, the alarm stopped! We could not have been happier. Although the work done today was expensive, we figure if we had brought the RV in to fix the alarm, and find out why it was going off, they might have figured it out, but it would probably have cost a lot in the process. Once again, Eric saved the day. He is truly my hero – and I adore him!
Meanwhile, during the 5 hours I spent in the office of the service center, I talked to this nice guy, Rod, who was having new tires put on his Ford Pick-up. He told me and Eric about a place called PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK, which is only 15 miles south of Amarillo, where there is great mountain biking, and a view that is only topped by the Grand Canyon itself. It’s called “The Grand Canyon of Texas.”
Didn’t I tell you that the best places we’ve been have been recommended by friendly people we met?
We were planning to head straight to Colorado Springs today, and Denver tomorrow, but Palo Duro Canyon sounded too good to pass up, so we headed south before heading north!
Mike from the service center recommended a great place to eat – EL BRACERO MEXICAN GRILL, where Eric and I had authentic Tex Mex food. Then, we were off to Palo Duro.
We first registered at PALO DURO RV PARK and then drove immediately to the canyon. It was VERY scary for me, because the cliffs were right there, and we had to ride down 10% grades, which is very steep – especially in an RV! We finally got to the mountain bike trail and I took a nap in the RV (I was exhausted from my big day in the service center) and Eric had a great ride.
After that we came back to the campground and fell madly in love with a tiny black kitten that lives underneath the laundry room here. We fed it some of my leftover salmon and it became our new best friend, even letting me hold it in my lap. It’s a good thing I’m allergic, or we would have had a guest for the rest of our trip!
We also saw something scurry under the RV and I got SO scared, because I thought it was a rat, but it was the CUTEST little baby bunny! I love this place!
Tomorrow we will get back on route to Colorado, going through New Mexico for a bit before heading North to Colorado Springs for the night.