Tim Creaghan and I had a tee time at Cimmaron County Club on Monday morning, but an early text from them stated they had cancelled all tee times due to a lack of enough players! Tierra Santa in Weslaco did have an opening late in the morning. It is a very nice course and almost always windy which adds to the challenge, but Monday was unusual in that there was very little wind. Tim had a good round, but my round deteriorated with every swing and putt.

Saturday was a great day. Kay, Sue Mercer, and I did a short ride to Mission Park (aka Roadrunner Trail), the ladies’ first ride of the season. Riding at a relaxed pace and stopping often, they really enjoyed the ride. 

With little wind and warm temperatures, I liberally applied insect repellent, loaded the camera and big lens, and rode to the National Butterfly Center. It was perhaps the best day of photography I’ve ever had there, with some pretty decent shots of the beautiful creatures. Though I did not target nor shoot any rare species, the other colorful fluttering insects were almost mouth dropping.

The motorhome got a beauty treatment Friday morning, with a wash and dry; not too bad, but it will be dusty/dirty in a couple of weeks because of the wind and blowing dust.

Cycling was amped up on this day as Van came by and asked if I was interested in pedaling to Best Buy, perhaps 7 or so miles away. I agreed, but after stopping at Best Buy, we continued to ride on 26h Street north (great bicycle lane), all the way to Edinburg, and then back to the RV resort, some 38.8 miles. In retrospect, we both overdid it!

During Kay’s visit last week to the Mission Regional Hospital ER, Dr. Rodriguez gave us names of internal medicine doctors that saw only adults. Kay phoned Dr. Abreu at the top at the top of the list and they offered to work her in as the day progressed. We drove to her office, Kay filled out paperwork, and we returned to the motorhome to await their call. In the afternoon, they called, and Kay drove to the office and saw Dr. Abreu. Kay really liked her, and she prescribed a neurological block tablet that should ease the pain from shingles.

Despite winds of almost 20 mph, I did another short bicycle ride (10.2 miles) on Wednesday.

And then it was off to the National Butterfly Center where a few of the butterflies and a moth cooperated, posing briefly for the camera. Otherwise, things were pretty quiet for us.

A first of the season trip to the National Butterfly Center occurred on Saturday.  It proved to be a great day for photographing butterflies.

Kay and I ventured out to play golf Saturday afternoon at Palm View—a mistake. It was crowded, with 4 fivesomes in front of a foursome in front of us. Kay bailed after nine holes and I joined the foursome, but darkness prevented us from finishing.

We pulled out of Rocky Point Campground about 8:00 AM, driving south. Our first stop was at a Walmart Superstore in Tyler, Texas, for gasoline and RAT traps, etc., arriving at Colorado landing in La Grange Texas about 3:00 PM.

Devastation brought about by Hurricane Harvey flooding was surreal, with debris everywhere. In late August, the Colorado River rose some 54 feet, flooding the entire campground and adjacent areas. However, the staff seemed to take it all in stride, working long hours to rectify the damage.

After settling in, the rat traps were set with peanut butter and cheese, with one in the coach  proper, and two in the basement. Time will tell.

We awoke Monday with few expectations, thinking that the motorhome would not be ready today. However, we received a call from the Hot Springs Ford dealership just before lunch advising that the technician worked Saturday disconnecting the old wiring harness, allowing him to expedite hooking everything back up this morning. We drove to Hot Springs, paid the bill, hooked up the Honda tow car, and were on our way south once again.  This time, no problems, as we pulled into Rocky Point Campground about 3:00 pm. A prime site with a lake view was open, and after setting up, a wave of relief overcame us.

And then while dozing and watching TV, she heard the pittypat of steps and then felt something walk across her head; it was a packrat! Enough already. This calls for serious action.

Kay slept very little Friday and Saturday nights, the pain in her left back and side intensifying. I played golf Saturday afternoon, while Kay attempted to manage the increasing pain as she decorated one of several trees for Christmas.