Is There an Electrician in the Family?

Oh yes! There are a couple. But they are 5000 kilometers away!

The new voltage regulator has arrived! Got a call yesterday afternoon from Electronica Mitron saying that it had come in, took the Jeep into centro and picked it up this morning.

Now to transfer the input and output cables from the old unit to the new one.

While getting ready to start Art had a closer look in good light at the EW50 and was able to see signs of damage--one small part looked like it had over heated and there were sooty like deposits on the inside of the cover and on the outside of the fan vent. With no schematic and no schematic not much to be done. Art sent an email to the company, we'll wait and see. The warranty runs out before we get to Mazatlan, but there is a Home Depot in Puerto Vallarta. As I said, wait and see.

The Ecowise unit is much more high tech--mostly electronics, the SOLA BASIC mostly transformer with some solid state switching and control.

The EW50 was set up for very standard connections. Hot, Neutral and Ground input connections on one side, and Hot, Neutral and Ground output connections on the other. Two large openings accommodated the two large gauge three wire cables.



But! The SOLA BASIC had only three connections in total; Hot in, Hot out, and a single neutral. Ground? What ground? This is quite common in Mexico. Art did notice that the electronic circuit board had a small gauge green wire going to a nut on the metal box. So here was where he attached the two grounds from the input and output cables. He had to splice the two neutrals together (as shown on the diagram provided). He had his soldering gun and heatshrink tubing to do a reasonable job. He also had to pare the cable cover right back and was just able to get the six individual wires through the small hole. Cable clamp? No room! A few wraps of PVC Tape and a cable tie for a strain relief and we were good to go.

Plugged in, breaker turned on, no smoke! This will be a re-do project when we get home and have the tools and space to work on it. So far it is working in that the power is coming through, though the inverter did have to come into play when the AC started up, the SOLA BASIC didn't correct fast enough for the compressor startup voltage sag. We'll see how it does with the high voltages overnight.

Well it works well enough on the high voltages though unless there is a good load it idles somewhere between 108 and 112. And it boosts the low voltages up to a reasonable level (about 115) BUT it is much too slow to going into boost mode. 108 is the minimum allowable voltage for the heatpump.  The Xantrex is still having to go into invert mode to start the compressor. Once that is done the voltage is usually somewhere between 112-115 with the heatpump running.

Concerned with the inverter switching on and off so much under high current load I eventually took the SOLA Boost 4000 out of circuit and stored it away. The heatpump will sometimes start if the morning line voltage is approaching 130V. We will move north to Puerto Vallarta soon and hopefully will be able to do without the air  conditioning.

Zihuatanejo, January 2017

Having a bit of an electrical problem with very high and very low AC at the RV Park connection. The Xantrex of course protects the rig and equipment by stopping incoming  power that is out of spec. If it is set to "Invert" then it does and supplies a nice 118 volts from the batteries. Which is fine unless we forget to disable the high current devices such as the air conditioner!






Another problem is high current heating to the 50A shore power cord where it connects to the 50A-30A adapter. Probably due to poor connections inside the fitting and/or low voltage.

You can see where the rubber has partially melted on the 50A plug. (Right)






Of the two adapters I have (the black one is new and is the spare) the yellow one at first glance seems OK but on closer inspection may show some sign of heating in the middle. There seems to be a small shallow depression in the plastic.

The cord runs about 75-77 degrees F, the plug right beside the terminals was running about 100F. Runs cooler (92) with the new adapter. 


UPDATE February sometime. The plugs and cords were running cool enough, just slightly over ambient. Noticed though that the breaker box was warm as was the supply 30A outlet, though slightly less so. Advised Mundi, (the park owner) who came and had a look: the buss on the box was burnt!  The electrician arrives soon; a new box, new breaker and new wire spliced in. I wish I had had the nerve to photograph the job but I thought the electrician would take offense! I foot long piece of #8 red wire spliced in to replace the scorched original wire, and a piece of what looked like # 10 or 12 green wire spliced into the white neutral! However, it works. All nice and cool now.  The electrician said that these should be replaced almost every year because of the humid salt ridden air.




Last year (and in previous years) we have also had problem with high voltage overnight and sometimes, during the afternoon when the demand is high, with low voltage. We looked into various voltage regulation devices and last year on the way home, in Mazatlan we purchased a high tech electronic one. At home Art wired in the required cables and plugs and tried it out when we got here in November. It worked great! The inverter did not have to interfere once, the EW50/1 holding the voltage at 118V even when the incoming voltage rose to above 130.

Until one day a month or so later the lights flickered a few times and the inverter came on. Investigation showed that though there was acceptable voltage at the post there was no output voltage. The indicator lamp was flashing a code which the manual stated showed short circuit in the device. Disconnecting the output, so there was no out connection, the same code showed.

Art unplugged the unit and plugged the shore power cord into the campground supply. So we're back to depending on the inverter. No one here can service it, we'll try in Mazatlan.



Meanwhile, friends in the park across the street last year purchased and installed a SOLA BASIC 4000 which they report as working flawlessly. Their friends and neighbours bought one this year and we get the same reports from them. Art ordered on Wednesday from Electronic Mitron, delivery a week to ten days. Waiting now with fingers crossed.

A few photos of El Manglar to end the year

New bar installed at El Manglar Restaurant yesterday, the "Grand Opening" was today.

And by 6:30 PM in full swing.

Another boring sunset.

THE SUBLIME

Humming birds showed up a few weeks ago. While looking up feeding info I confirmed what I thought I had remembered about sugar syrup for them: DO NOT use raw sugar or brown sugar. The colour is iron which is highly toxic to humming birds in those amounts. Even the light brown granulated sugar that is common here in Mexico is toxic and will kill them in time. Nor should powdered sugar be used--it contains anti-caking agents which is bad for them. Never thought that I would be hunting for "healthy" granulated white sugar! Finally found 2 kilo bags at the Comercial Mexicana!

AND THE RIDICULOUS

PAINTING IN THE PARK

We had had some body and paint work done just after arriving and when our friends Dale and Barb arrived we told them about Margarito. Dale and Barb had been hit in the rear by a runaway trailer while on their way home from Mexico last year and totally smashed in the rear of their motorhome. It was deemed a writeoff but they decided to patch it up. On arrival here this year there was a lot of screw holes etc left from the temporary plywood repairs done in Mexico. Also the decals were quite sun faded on the left side.

Margarito and Dale discussed what was wanted/needed and soon they were at work. Those curved waves on the side are not decals: Photographed, paint matched and painted on.

About a week later Fred arrived, planning to stay a day or two while making his way further south. When Art noticed some serious damage to the fibreglass body on the left rear of his 1990 Winnebago Warrior he said "I know someone who can fix that."

Margarito came around and Fred was quoted a few thousand pesos. Then they began looking at the years' and decades' collection of dents, bumps, tears and scrapes. A little bargaining and 15,000 pesos and one week later a full body repair and repaint:

 (note, 15 pesos to the Canadian dollar, 20 to the US dollar)

El Manglar, Zihuatanejo

Not done a lot since we got here; wash and wax, small body and paint repairs to the motorhome


Microwave/Convection went BANG when Art pressed the Start button to reheat some tea in the cup. 40 seconds later the tea was hot, no smoke, no smell.

Happened again three more times yet ran perfectly in between. Something is Arcing intermittently.

Went onto RV.NET to ask for advice, and also how to take the oven out so he can followup on the suggestions. One poster asked for a photo of the installation in order to best advise on how to remove it. So here are the photos. Now I can copy their URLs and post it on RV.NET

UPDATE:  It BANGED once more a week later, and now, 29th of December, almost the end of the year it has worked perfectly since. Must have burned all the carbon off!

There is nothing to stand it on here while I investigate, so I think I will leave well enough alone for now.

And another photo I need for rv.net

MaxxFan with fuse in the fan. (Someone said they didn't make them.)

But just to prove that we are really here:

Full Moon 13 December 2016 

Greeted with this returning to the rig after dinner in the restaurant.

 

Catching Up! Laredo to Zihuatanejo

Since I am so far behind and really all we did was travel I'll put the next three days into one pos

 12 November 2016  Lardeo to Matehuala

We left the Info Center at 8:00 AM, much later than planned, as usual! There are two options for the route; north a bit and take the toll road, or continue south on the I-35 then west to meet the toll road at the Columbia Bridge crossing. Since the tolls are take automatically either by a license plate reader or Toll Pass reader we opted to take the free road.

NOTE:  Garmin does not recognise this crossing and shouted at us the entire way until we had actually crossed the bridge. This is the reason that we keep the voice option turned off!

The directions are somewhat different than from last year though fairly well signed. Watch for signs for Solidarity Bridge or Colombia Bridge. The full name of the bridge is Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. Eventually you need to be on Mines Road, numbered FM 1472, then after what seems like a very long way it intersects with 255, (the toll road) where you must turn LEFT. The sign here this year was not very obvious and was quite close to the turn.

We arrived at the Columbia toll Bridge  at 8:35 and were at the border on the other side a few moments later.

How to navigate the crossing (At least this year):

They keep changing the setup here: This year they wanted big rigs to park  by the fence on the far LEFT before going through the lights and walk across to get paper work done.

Then proceed through which ever gate has the green light--or as directed--the rig will probably have to go through the X-Ray machine after the paperwork has been completed.

Everyone and pets( or every live animal) except the driver MUST exit the rig while the driver takes the rig to the X-Ray. The driver exits the machine and hides behind a very thick concrete wall with the attendant while the X-Ray apparatus moves over the rig. When done, the rig has to make a U-Turn and go back towards the north bound lanes. DON'T go through! Park alongside the grass and wait until the X-Rays are checked and you are cleared by an agent to proceed. This involves another U-Turn and you're on your way.

We were finished with Immigration Customs and the vehicle permit and cleared the X-Ray at 10:05

The exit from the customs winds around quite a bit before meeting highway 2. Here you turn left.

The highway started out in good shape--last year it was terrible--but soon deteriorated. The police are very vigilant along here but there was no way we could maintain the 80 Km/H speed limit for most of it. 

At about 11:00 on the main highway south we stopped at a Pemex/OXXO for phone cards. The  machine for adding time directly to the phones was not working but we were able to buy one 100 peso card (they only had one!) and a 200 peso card that we could add to the phones ourselves by entering the number. Art did his right then but Gillian decided to wait as she had to find the SIM card adapter.

Then 15 minutes or so down the road another Customs check but we were waved through once they saw the import decals on the vehicles.

Heavy fog around Monterrey and heaver still as we climbed the mountains. Fortunately it was not as bad as it had been the first time we took this route some years ago.

Approaching Matehuala we went straight ahead to the city NOT taking the bypass around it as the GPS was insisting. We knew that our way would work as we wanted fuel. A few kilometers along we stopped at the Pemex at 5:35 and by 6:08 were parked and level at Las Palmas Midway Inn 

We didn't bother to connect to power, water or sewer, power here if often iffy at best, batteries were fully charged and tanks were appropriately full or empty. Relatively expensive here for unreliable services, AND they charge in US dollars and convert to pesos! Put it on VISA at 364.14 pesos, which came through on our VISA statement as a charge to Motel 6 of $24.55

If you are heading for Las Palmas from the north as we were you can see the sign on the left but it is not near the road but on a high tower near the rear of the park. Look at the map available in the link above and if you look closely you will see a break in the divided highway where you can turn left. Not a 90 degree turn, a much broader angle: you need to cross the north bound traffic at a diagonal and (in a big rig) make a U Turn at the entrance so that you end up parallel to (but not in) the north bound lanes. On the map you can see a dark lane angling towards the north corner of the property. This is the gate they will open for you if you cannot fit under the arch at the front of the hotel which is quite low--check it out first even if driving a van.

If you don't need fuel and would rather pay the toll than deal with the traffic you can take the 57D Toll road and take the first exit right into the city.  When you reach the 57, DON'T go under the highway but turn north on the lateral. Just as the lateral ends and merges with the main through you will see the Las Palmas Inn on your right.


13 November Matehuala to Queretaro 

9:30 on the road through town it seems to take forever to get out of the city. Low speed limits for quite a distance though many locals seem to ignore it. Might be worthwhile to take the toll road next time but then again, it might not!

11:50 one small toll 115 peso ($7.75 Canadian)

 Lots of new construction into Queretaro. The highway is being mostly elevated with wide laterals on each side, several cross streets providing Retornos. Or at least they will when finished. Some are blocked off. For most of it we are on the laterals, the through lanes not yet finished. Looks good for next year though.

We soon spotted the Pemex and the Hotel Juriquilla Inn on the left side of the road so knew to be watching carefully for our exit. Again changes from previous years but we knew we had to cross the highway and head back north a little. We spotted the exit and were soon over the highway and making the 270 degree turn over the highway and another one to head us back northbound on the highway and then we were there. 2:30 PM

This exit is a little hard to spot; Keep to the right lane as you pass the Pemex/Hotel Juriquilla Inn on the other side of the highway and take the exit the instant that you go under the over pass. As said above, a 270 degree turn takes you over the highway then an immediate 270 degree from the exit puts you north bound again and the hotel and pemex are on the right.

While Gillian went into the office to check in Art began disconnecting the Jeep. We would top up with fuel here to avoid any delays in the morning. We had a long day ahead of us tomorrow.

Art fueled the motorhome while Gillian moved the Jeep then she took the dogs out and scouted our parking place.  The mute lad that opened the gate was quite excited when we recognised him. And very excited when we reminded him of our getting stuck in the very wet grass some years ago. He and another young man spent three hours digging us out!

The spot they gave us this time, he assured us was very firm. Art took a look and was not so sure. However, we reversed around a pile of rocks and were soon in place parallel to the wall. Tires sinking somewhat into the sod. Art found a flattish rock about 8 inches across and 4 to 5 inches thick which he placed on the grass under the right rear jack where the grass seemed softest. Then a couple of squares of plywood which we carry with us on top of this, and also under each of the other three jacks. Then he put the jacks down. They sank in a little but not too much. Hopefully we will be able to drive out in the morning!

Parked, level, slides out and Satellite dish locked on at 3:15

Again, not worth hooking up and at 200 pesos quite reasonable. (Less than $14.00

14 November Queretaro to Zihuatanejo

8:30 on the road. North for a few kilometers, retorno, back through town to the 45D toward Celaya and Silao. There was one retorno that we could have taken but missed it. There is a lot of construction here, there should be a retorno or two under the new highway being built.

Once southbound into the city watch for the signs for Celaya and Silao Cuota. It is well into the city and a right exit about where the laterals end.  WATCH CAREFULLY FOR THE SIGNS. The last on is not all that obvious until the last minute. It is not necessary to keep to the laterals.

9:15 First of many tolls today on the Quota out of the city. This would be an expensive Toll day.

There are several tolls quite close together and not cheap! One of the tolls you take a ticket and pay at the end.

Crossing Lago Qutizeo we sometime spot cows up grazing, to their knees in water! Not so this year.

One across the lake we began keeping our eyes out for any signs to the new toll road that would avoid Morelia and the periferico traffic. We knew that we would have to turn north towards Guadalajara but were not sure what the signs would actually read. If memory serves me right Patzcuaro was listed!  Once north bound watch for signs for the Patzcuaro, Uruapan, or Lazaro Cardenas. I believe it was actually marked 37D somewhere!

For first timers on this route: There is quite a bit of up and down and we were almost past Patzcuaro before we realised it! Once we hit the big downgrades between Patzcuaro and Uruapan  we knew exactly where we were.

When these are more or less done you have to watch carefully because to continue to Zihuatanejo and the coast rather than Uruapan you will actually have to EXIT on the the right. This exit will merge with traffic coming from Uruapan. Should you miss the exit don't worry too much, you'll just have to find a place to turn around as the Cuota ends and becomes the main road into the city.

Still more tolls to come! And hot hot hot. Infernillo is not named that in jest! Still a picturesque drive for the most part.

Eventually we arrived at the junction with the 200, and turned left to Zihuatanejo. One hour away. 
Since it seems that someone may be using this blog to follow our route I'll give specific direction to El Manglar RV Park, including a small detour for fuel.

South on the 200 towards Zihuatanejo the highway is in pretty good shape. The upgrades have cut 20 to 30 minutes off what it used to take.

As you enter Zihuatanejo at the bottom of the downgrade after the Ixtapa cut off keep in the right lane. Do not take the lateral. After a bit the highway divides and goes around what is more or less a large roundabout though that is hard to see.


IF you want to stop for fuel, stay in the left lane but DO NOT return around the roundabout (though you could go around again) but go straight to the traffic lights. At the light, keep in the left lane, you will see a PEMEX station ahead and on the left.  The left turn lane here (at the light) has a green filter. Turn left on the green signal and enter the Pemex from the cross street, right at the corner. This PEMEX has only ONE Diesel pump, it is the one nearest that corner. 

The best way to get back on the 200, you will have to head north again for a block, is NOT to use the side street but turn right onto or hopefully ACROSS the lateral to the main highway lanes. Immediately after the traffic lights you need the far left lane and keep going left around the roundabout again. As you go around there will be a cross street--this is the one you came in on--
keep left but use the RIGHT lane as you go around past that cross street.

 Almost immediately you will see another two lanes entering from the right: THEY have the right of way. Here you carry around heading south you need to stay right (If you went for fuel, the first time around you were staying left) as you will need to immediately exit to the lateral. You have the right of way here entering the lateral but note that buses and taxis may want to argue the point!

From the lateral turn right at the next (very close) street, just past the bus station. This street will take you past the Comercial Mexicana department store on your left. (Good place to shop if you need to. Also there are 4 ATMs inside.  IF you do, LeaveCM by the same entrance exit.) This street Ts into another street, turn right. Watch OUT for 2 topes in the next short block. Further down there in another that is almost impossible to see. Watch other traffic for hints!

Soon is another roundabout. You want the third exit. This puts you on the La Ropa Road which will take you up then down a hill or two. At the bottom of the hill a road leads off to the right at the Dolfin Statues. Keep going straight (the road bears slightly left). The road surface deteriorates badly here. Around the next curve another road goes left. Again, keep going straight. WATCH OUT: after you pass that road and round a slight curve, La Ropa road divides ahead of you. You will  see at the last minute two lanes bear right and two lanes are straight ahead. KEEP RIGHT.  These lanes soon merge into one and La Ropa road is back to one lane each way.  Don't ask why this road is like that. Too long to go into here!

 The straight section of road goes up hill ahead of you. DON'T go up the hill! Turn right. Depending on your height you may be able to take the one lane on the right. Note the ARCH at the end of it. If in doubt, don't go there! The height notice was painted over some years ago. I know we don't fit!

To avoid the arch you need to go down the wide street along side, just on the other side of a treed  divider. This is a ONE WAY street: Put your hazard lights on, keep to the right and drive slowly. Once immediately past the arch turn right and cross the road the goes under the arch. If you were able to drive under the arch turn right once you exit the arch. Take the next left under low trees and the worst road surface you have seen in a while. In maybe one hundred feet turn a hard right to El Manglar.


4:25 Fuel at the Pemex on the highway (just south of the roundabout).

4:57 Arrived El Manglar

Sometimes it seemed to be taking forever but we're here at last and suddenly it all seems worth it.


Numbers to date:  Distance travelled from home to here: 6,554 kilometers. (4,072.6 miles)
Fuel burned (From fill at Port Angeles) 1882.22 liters. (414 Imperial gallons, 497.23 US gallons)
Fuel/distance:  28.7 Litres per 100 Kilometers :O ! (9.84 mpg imperial, 8.19 mpg (US)
Total fuel cost: $1,694.00 Cdn  1.11 per litre.

San Antonio, and closer to the border

We are quite at home at Braunig Lake RV Park. Even though under new owners this year the staff is all the same. They even remembered us from the previous year and the much delayed windshield replacement.

Friday we called Billy Bob RV, the RV service place recommended by the resort. The Mechanic would be able to come Tuesday morning. The earliest the RV Tech could get to us was Thursday. Looks like we'll be here another week. Worse places to be.

Friday evening there was dinner in the activity room. Saturday and Sunday mornings they did breakfasts; bacon or sausage with eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, toast and coffee on Saturdays and Sundays is all you can eat pancakes or waffles.

We were able to get in touch with our friend Lulú and made arrangements for a visit. We drove to the other side of the city to her daughter's place and had a wonderful lunch and visit. We may not see her this winter in Zihuatanejo as she has to stay in the U.S until her paper work comes through. She has been waiting for her "Green Card" since summer. With her daughter and grand children in San Antonio it will be so much easier to cross back and forth.

Jorge, her husband is still in their home in Morelia working. We hope we can persuade him to drive their campervan to Zihuatanejo and visit us even if Lulú doesn't get back.

Tuesday the mechanic arrived and had a look at the oil which had spread about again with the rain. He crawled about over and under and couldn't find anything to be concerned about. His comment "I'd be happy to drive this to Mexico." took a weight off our shoulders.

 Wednesday was Gillian's birthday so we went into the middle of the city for a celebratory dinner at Zinc Bistro & Bar which had so impressed us last year. And it's only a few steps from a parking garage! The Texas Lamb Pappardelle was superb.

Thursday the Fantastic Fan was installed and now we're ready to go Friday morning. We had booked in for a week when we arrived so had to pay one more night.



Friday 11 November, San Antonio to Laredo

We had a very short drive ahead of us today so there was no rush to get started. Once we were ready Art took the rig over to the propane tank while Gillian drove the Jeep to the office  to ask them for a fill, (and to wait for it to be done and pay for it).

Once topped up with propane Art drove next door to the Valero station to fill the fuel tank, Gillian was right along to fill the Jeep. We drove behind the station to hook up where Art discovered that he had forgotten to put the protective cover over the airline and brake indicator wire for the Jeep braking system.  A few minutes with a roll of PVC tape took care of that. At 1:45 we were on the road northbound for a few exits before following the 410 to the I-35 South towards Laredo.

A few minutes after 4:00 we arrived at the Texas Tourist Information Center for the night. (MM 18 I-35)

Tomorrow: Mexico!



As you can see I'm chipping away at the blog:

We are now in Zihuatanejo and I'll do my best to tear myself away from a book, the restaurant, the beach, the chaiselongue,. .  .at least once in a while, to get this done.  Unfortunately, I am not a skilled typist and spend more time correcting errors than composing! And as for getting the photos out of the camera and into the computer where I can find them again. . . . . .

Albuquerque to San Antonio.

1 November, heading East

We left ABQ at 11:10 AM, about what we had planned for. Today we were continuing Eastbound, looking to spend at least one night in Oklahoma, a new state for us. We wouldn't reach Oklahoma today, guessing we'd be spending the night in a rest area or perhaps the Oasis RV Park in Amarillo TX which had been recommended to us.

Still east bound on the I-40 at 1:30 we made a 40 minute lunch stop at a closed Rest Area at mm 300.

At 3:30/4:30 we crossed the New Mexico-Texas state line and changed from Mountain Time to Central Time. Almost into Amarillo we stopped for fuel at 5:10 and at 5:30 checked in to the Oasis RV Park for the night.

As it happened they have a kitchen and it was open until 6:00PM, wings and/or pizza on the menu. We were either going to have an early dinner close on the heels of lunch, OR one of us was going to have to cook and the other would be doing the washing up. No contest. Dinner: Pizza from the office and cold beer from our fridge.

2: November Southeast

 10:45 We left the Oasis and were east bound through Amarillo then turned southeast on the 287.

At Quanah we turned left on the 6 and followed that north for a bit into Oklahoma and up to the 62 then continued east until at 2:50 in a pullout near Cache OK (Near Lawton) we stopped for lunch. From Lawton we continued west on the 7

We were getting to the end of our day and near our destination; as we approached the I-35 we stopped for fuel at 5:00 PM then on to the 35 where we turned south towards Hidden Lake RV Park near Ardmore. Following the conspicuous signs for the Hidden Lake RV Park rather than the GPS, which wanted us to take a somewhat convoluted route, we arrived at 6:20. Another State for the map!

To be fair to Garmin, we are using the Garmin RV unit and it has our length, height and weight details programmed into it and so tends to keep us off residential streets. 




 

Thursday, 3rd November Southbound
 
at 10:00 AM and soon back into Texas on the I-35 which would take us all the way to San Antonio. We were through Fort Worth by noon, traffic not as bad as expected, pretty uneventful for a big city.

Then we began to run into rain. Which soon turned to RAIN and of course wind. Hard driving to say the least. After a bit of this, shortly after 2:00 we stopped at a rest area between Waco and Austin for lunch and to give the dogs (and us!) a break. The rain let up a bit and actually stopped long enough to get the dogs walked and we were back southbound on the I-35.




In terrible rain and wind. Driving through Austin was horrible with wind, rain, heavy traffic and roadworks. Visibility at times down to 100 meters. Most of the big trucks had 4 way flashers going, 30mph in a 70 zone, sometimes almost at a stop. Nearing the end of the city limits we came across a large overhead highway sign warning: NEXT 4 MILES 9 MINUTES.









After we were well out of Austin the rain began to abate and the drive through and around San Antonio on the 410 wasn't bad at all. It helps that we have driven that quite a lot over the past few years in the Jeep so knew where our exits were and what to expect.

A few days ago I got the idea of marking the Start with green pointer and arrival position with red. These just mark our entry to the city and our arrival at the RV Park.








We arrived at Braunig Lake RV Resort at 6:30 PM. We plan to stay here a week, get the ceiling vent fan installed, get the oil leak confirmed, repaired or . . . .