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Catalytic Converter Theft

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Catalytic Converter Theft Catalytic converter thefts are at an all time here in Louisiana and as I would soon learn across the nation because of the high concentration of precious metals rhodium, platinum and palladium.  I was aware of the problem but felt reasonably secure since I keep the RV in a locked storage facility and have since I bought her nearly 12 years ago.  I have never had any issues out there.   On this Friday, I came out to the RV storage facility to put my clean linens back in the rig, check on Bayou Baby and empty the dehumidifier, a weekly event here in hot and humid Louisiana.  I had finished up my tasks and was about to leave when I decided to turn on the vehicle and run it for a few minutes. I heard an awful sound like a vehicle with no muffler but did not want to believe that was what had happened.  I called my brother to let him listen and make sure before I called the sheriff's office.  I also crawled under the rig and took pictures and video.  It just mad

Arkansas bound May 24, 2020

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Once again I left without reservations.  This time my travel buddy is my oldest son, Jack. We drove up to the Degray Lake area south of Hot Springs, Arkansas and found a campsite at Caddo Drive Corps of Engineers campground.  It’s my first time to visit this campground.  It’s Sunday night, near the end of the Memorial Day weekend but this campground has a few vacancies. Site #71 was a pull through site with electric hookups only. All of the sites are electric only. All sites are up high on a bluff overlooking the lake and depending on the season all have lake views but this time of year with all the leaves on the trees our view was just a glimpse of a sliver of lake.  At the end of the point there’s a beautiful overlook area with benches and porch swings. Site was slightly sloped but easy to level using my Camco trileverers. There’s another section of the campground that are tent sites only. There’s a lake beach and day use area also.  One post Covid-19 world change is reservations are

RV trip Destination Lake D’Arbonne State Park May 20-22, 2020

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Louisiana state parks opened up post the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown on Friday, May 15. I didn’t go RVing immediately but started making plans to go to Lake D’Arbonne State Park in Farmerville, Louisiana. I arrived May 20 and was able to get a site without a reservation but I had to leave on Friday because they were booked for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. I stayed in site 10 and was never able to get it quite level because of the steep slope. One advantage to the site I discovered the second night is it’s next to the WiFi transmitter so I was able to stream a movie. I watched “You’ve Got Mail” , an old movie starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.  Each campsite has water and electricity. Tallulah Belle and I hiked the trails at the park and walked down to the lake.  Some sites are next to or right across from the lake.  All sites have both water and 30/50 amp electric hookups and water. There’s a dump station. My site was up the hill from the lake. I also read books and relaxed. They hav

Shopping for a new RV

Recently I have been looking at new (newer) RVs but I keep circling back around to what I already have. I paid cash for a 1998 Gulfstream Conquest 8 years ago. It had two previous owners but has been very well cared for and was in the best condition of any I’d looked at in the price range that I was in my budget (under $20,000). It doesn’t have slides (I did not want those because I don’t spend much time indoors except at bedtime or if it rains).  So a little history I took my rig in for routine generator maintenance in November and I was told that since my generator is 20 years old parts are no longer available. Then on a recent road trip my generator exhaust came unclamped on one end. I noticed this on my routine walk around after pumping gas. “Great I thought it’s a sign!” And so began my quest to find a new-to-me rig.  This one is too big I thought as I toured and then drove a Class A, then I thought I might consider downsizing to something smaller.  At 5’10” I felt too tall in the