Trigger & Destiny

HI BACK AGAING LOTS HAS HAPPEN IN TUCSON BUT RV PARK NOT HOME FOR US. WERE GOING TO BENSON AZ TO CHECK OUT RV PARKS THERE ITS A SMALL TOWN WITH ALL THE THINGS WE NEED.OH GREAT MOVE WE CHECKED TWO OR THREE RV PARKS AND WE FOUND WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR IT CALLED VALLEY HIGH RV PARK JUST SOUTH OF TOWN OF BENSON AZ ITS A 55 PLUS PARK AND REALLY CLEAN JUST SMALL PARK AND HAS A SWIMMING POOL AND CLUB HOUSE AND PEOPLE ARE GREAT.WHEN WE FIRST SEEN THIS PARK IT WAS GETTING DARK ON A FRIDAY NITE AROUND 500 PM ON APRIL/ 27/2007 WE STOPED IN AT RV OFFICE TO CK ON RATES AND THEY WAS CLOSED BUT THERE WERE TWO MEN PLAYING GUITAR IN CLUB HOUSE ACROSS FROM OFFICE.WE WENT IN TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OPENINGS AND TO CK ON RATES THEY WERE VERY NICE AND WELCOME US AND ONE GAVE MY WIFE A BOX OF COOKIES AND THEN HE ASKED HER FOR A HUG AND GUESS WHAT SHE DID VERY NICE PEOPLE THEY TOLD US ABOUT RATES AND SUCH IT WAS A FAIR PRICE MONTHLY AND CABLE AND WATER AND SEWAGE CAME WITH RV SPOT ALL FOR LESS THEN 225.00 MONTH PLUS ELECTRIC WHICH COST 10 PKW. VERY NICE PARK WITH CONCRETE SLAB AND CLEAN GRAVEL AND LOTS OF ROOM FOR SITE.WE LOOKED AROUD FOR AWHILE AND THEN WE HEADED BACK TO TUCSON WE MADE OUR MIND UP SUNDAY 4/29/2007 WERE MOVEING TO BENSON WAS TRIGGER READY TO GO?GOT 35.00 GAS IN MOTOR HOME AND GOT 15 MLS DOWN ROAD AND TRIGGER STARTED TO BUCK AND KICK ALL THE WAY TO BENSON AZ PLUS IT OVER HEATED TOO REALLY HOT BUT WE MADE IT THERE BACK IN AND SET UP CAMP.BOY WAS IT NICE THERE QUITE AND CLEAN PLACE TO STAY TOO.I STARTED TO WORK ON WATER LEAK AND FINALLY FOUND PROBLEM PLATIC WATER HOSE THAT HOOKS UP TO BACK OF TOLIET HAD A CRACK IN HOSE AND IT WAS LEAKING BADLY I FIX THAT BINGO WE HAD WATER TO COOK WITH FLUSH WITH AND TAKE A SHOWER TOO.NEXT I FIXED BOTTLE GAS LEAKS UNDER CAMPER AND GOT HOT WATER HEATER TO WORK TOO.LOTS OF WORK THAT WAS A BLESSING.MY WIFE WITHIN A WEEK GOT A JOB AT GAS STATION AND SARA MOTEL DOWN THE ROAD PLUS EXTRA CLEANING JOB IN SAINT DAVID FINALY WERE MOVEING ON.THEN I GOT A JOB DOWN AT TRACTOR SHOP CLEANING UP GOLF CARTS.WORKED LESS THEN TWO WEEKS MADE OVER 300.00 CASH ENOUGH TO PAY FOR LOT RENT NEXT MONTH PLUSS GOT A CALL TO GO TO DENVER CO OUT OF WILLCOX AZ WITH A LOAD OF TOMMATOES 1,830 FOR 3 DAYS WORK WHAT AT TRIP JUDY WENT WITH ME AND WE DIDNT SLEEP FOR TWO DAYS CAUSE TRIP WAS SO DEMANDING ON TIME.WHAT ATRIP DELIVERED AND PICK UP CORRS BEER LOAD AND DELIVERED TO NEW MEXICO AND BACK IN 3 DAYS.GOT BACK HOME AND HAD ANOTHER JOB SET UP ALLREADY FOR WORK MOVEING IN TRAILERS IN TUCSON AZ 3 DAY JOB OVER MEMORIAL DAY.BEEN OFF SINCE THEN HOPE TO WORK SOON WILL UPDATE WITH MORE LATER OH TEMP BEEN 95 TO 102 DAILY PRAY FOR US WIFE HAVEING LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH HEAT BUT TO MY SUREPRISE IM DOING OK.

HI EVERYBODY SORRY HAVENT WRITTEN IN A LONG TIME HERE IS UP DATE SO FAR. TRIGGER RUNNING REALLY ROUGH WHATS WRONG WITH IT I DONT KNOW.BUT WE MADE IT TO TUCSON AZ ON 3/28/07 AT CRAZY HORSE RV PARK ITS GOOD CAUSE TRIGGER JUST ABOUT DIDNT MAKE IT.PAYED FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN FOR MONTH OF APRIL REALLY NOT HAPPY WITH RV PARK COST A LOT TO STAY THERE OVER 450.00 A MONTH GUY A CROOK.HAD TO LIVE IN A PARK WITH NOW COVER JUST GRAVEL LOT WIND AND DUST WOULD BLOW VERY BAD ACROSS DESERT AT OUR CAMP SITE THERE WAS A MAN NAMED ED THERE HE WAS RV REPAIR MAN FOR PARK.I HAD A LEAK IN MY WATER LINE UNDER TRAILER IT LEAKED UNDER FLOOR AND RUN DOWN BY OUR STEPS WHEN EVER WE TURNED ON OUR WATER IN CAMPER.SO I HAD HIM TAKE A LOOK AT IT SO HE CAME OVER AND CHECKED OUT AND TOLD ME HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OFF WASTE TANKS TO FIX IT I GUESS HE WAS STUIPED LEAK WAS NOT COMEING FROM THERE HE TOLD ME THAT COST WOULD BE 150.00 TO FIX AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD LET HIM KNOW I ASK HIM HOW MUCH I OWED HIM FOR REALLY DOING NOTHING HE SAID 10.00 I SAID ALL I GOT IS 20.00 HE SAID THAT WAS OK 20.00 MIND YOU HE JUST WALK I ROW OF CAMPERS DOWN TO LOOK AT MY MOTOR HOME. I PAYED HIM AND I THOUGH ALL THE TIMES I WORKED ON FRIENDS AND STRANGERS VEHICLES I NEVER GOT NOTHING BOY DID HE RIP ME OFF WE STAYED AWAY FROM HIM THAT FOR SURE REST OF MONTH ME AND WIFE STARTED LOOKING FOR JOB WENT A LOT OF PLACES PUT IN A LOT OF TIME DRIVING AROUND TUCSON AND NO LUCK YET.BOY WAS IT HOT AT OUR CAMP SITE DURING THE DAY BUT COOL AT NITE MY WIFE HAVEING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAT IM DOING OK IT TAKES AWHILE TO ADJUST TO IT.ONE WEEK HAS WENT BY OR SO NO JOB YET.MONEY GETTING LOW BUT IM NOT GIVING UP YET WENT TO OLD TUCSON AZ MOVIE TOWN ME AND JUDY HAD GOOD TIME THAT SATURDAY SEEN LIVE RODEO AND TOOK LOTS OF PICTURES. BOY IS IT NEAT HERE SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO.TUCSON IS A BIG TOWN ROADS GO EVERY WHERE AND GOT LOST A LOT. FINALY GOT A CALL ON A JOB RUNNING FROM TUCSON TO ELPASO TX DELIVERING JUNK STEEL CANSAND SOME PLASTIC BOTTLES FOR NEW WHRS IN ELPASO RAN 4 TRIPS HAD 4 FLAT TIRES PUT IN 90 HRS IN 7 JUDY WENT WITH ME TOO WORKED OUT GOOD 336 ONE WAY TO ELPASO WHAT A WEEK.ILL UPDATE MORE FROM THIS POINT SOON .

Well I guess it has been awhile since I posted an update, and I feel kind of guilty the last time I posted my parents were in New Mexico, and now they have been in Tucson for almost a month. They are doing very well, and are really glad that they decided to keep on going to Tucson instead of staying in New Mexico. They paid for a months rent at the Crazy Horse Rv Park in Tucson, and their month is just about up there. They are planning on moving to either another Rv park, or to an apartment next month. My dad got a job, and he worked 90 hours last week. I hope that doesn't continue for them, he really doesn't need to be working that many hours. My parents seem very happy in Arizona, and I am glad that they finally got up enough nerve to start all over in a new state. It has been such a great experience for them both. Well, thats all that I have time for right now, I will try to update more often from now on. Thank you all for being so encouraging, and supportive of my parents they are truly blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members.

Click here for some pictures

Here are some more

<<PICTURES OF THE TRUCK>>

I just got some pictures of the truck, so click above to see them.

Maxine

Well I haven't really had much of a chance to talk to mom and dad lately things are busy here, and they have been busy where they are at too. So, dad e-mailed me an update tonight, I am going to paraphrase it since some of it he wanted on the blog and other parts he didn't. They are still in Silver City New Mexico, and they are really starting to fit in, and enjoy themselves quite a bit. They seem to really like this little town, and may just decide to place their roots down in Silver City. They seems to finally be enjoying their trip, and it seems like things are starting to be less stressful for them. My dad's e-mail said PRAISE THE LORD as the subject line. He is so excited because they bought a 1988 Isuzu Trooper today. They gave "her" a name it's Nelly Bell. Das said that Trigger goes with Nelly Bell, and that he named it that because of Roy Rogers and Pat Brady - cowboy stars. (of course) They purchased the vehicle from Bryan Truck and Auto at 1405 N. Hudson Silver City, NM Phone: 505 388 0280. They got a great deal on the truck for only $600.00, dad said it's a 4 cylinder with 150,000 miles on it, and no rust on it anywhere. He gave me all of the guys names at the Car lot and they are: Bob Haley, Jason Bryan and Jeff Bryan. He said Bob Haley is 65 years old, and owns 24 acres of land on top of a mountain about 25 miles northwest of Silver City. He is getting married soon to a woman from Hong Kong, she is flying here to marry him. He was very friendly, and even invited them over sometime if they happen to stay in the area. He told them about the mine jobs in Silver City, and also about another RV park that would be $150.00 a month and includes water, sewage, and electric. But they want to make sure it has wi-fi and satellite first. I guess the other park is about 15 miles from the one they are at right now. My dad said "Miracle's are going on here we're fitting in here fine, mom's talking to everybody in RV camp. Right now she's talking to the lady behind us for over 45 minutes now." They cleaned out their RV and filled up the trooper with all of their overflow from the RV. So now they have more room inside the Rv to move around. So all in all it sounds like things are going really well for them. I'm glad things are settling down into a normal pace, and that things are starting to get back to normal. They said that they were going to send pictures of the trooper but I didn't get them yet. I do ahve some pictures from yesterday that they sent though. So just <<CLICK HERE>> to see them.

Thanks,
Maxine

My parents have wi/fi again so this time my dad did the update here it is:

Well we got here today around 10 a.m. at Silver City RV park we're at site number 9. We've got water sewage electricity and wifi but Destiny is upset because no satellite tv. We walked around town and it about wore both of us out mainly me cause I had to fix plumbing problem so I had to walk 500 miles to hardware hahaha! Mom thought I got run over by a car or something. We were in Las Cruces NM last night was going to stay at rv park there but I decided not so we drove 75 miles to rest area on hwy 180 29 miles east of Silver City New Mexico it was 1:00 am and I didn't want to wake up any body in rv park in Silver City NM that late. Trigger (the RV) I guess is on its last legs its missing badly and has no power to climb hills out here. It started to leak oil again out of motor but it don't smoke. I think that exhaust manifold gasket that's been leaking out of side of motor since we started our trip has burned the valves on the motor. Trigger has used 5 qts of oil since I started out from Wyatt but its leaking oil not burning it I guess. I'm going to try and see where oil is leaking from soon but you cant work on it in rv park. I'm told north on 180 or west what ever its got a lot of mountain climbing to do so in a few days or so maybe were head to Tucson AZ. Or the other way to go is go back to 180 south or east I not sure to 1 10 west to Tucson AZ. I'm told its not to bad going that way . This is a very nice town silver city has got nice people and I'm told lots of good paying jobs at the mines around here. oh miles from Wyatt Indiana thru Rockford Illinois this is just about 99% all 2 lane hwys thru MO, KS, OK, TX, NM, to Silver City NM 1805 total miles this is better then map miles said I mapped out at start 1995 miles we did good on miles but I win the record on things that can go wrong on a trip and I mean it I felt like blowing trigger up a bunch of times 400.00 just on repairs alone . Gas money was 866.95 dollars total just for gas . Prices were terrible I paid at times 2.399 2.599 to 2.699 and now in Silver City NM its 2.739 wow gas companies are a joke they are bleeding every dollar out of America and that is the truth. Campground fees are high too around 21.50 to 38.00 a night but that's full service hook up too. Well I'm going to bed almost broke got to find job soon pray for us it is a trial to start over in this over priced world . Ill let you know more later on what job I get and where we will live . Thanks for following us and thanks for my special kids and all my grand kids for letting us to run away from home on this special trip I learned a lot maybe just like the pioneers did when they headed west.
Bye for now trigger and Destiny bye and God Bless .

The town that they stayed in last night was called Santa Rosa New Mexico, and the campground was a KOA campground. Mom got up early this morning and fixed breakfast, then she decided she was still tired so she laid back down, and didn't wake up until noon CST. Then they both took their showers, and when mom got back from her shower she was shocked to see dad. He shaved his beard, and gave himself a haircut. She was laughing so hard on the phone I could barely understand her. When they were here, I commented that dad was starting to really look bald, well I guess he really is bald now. Mom said he cut a lot of his hair off, and that she will send me pictures of it next time they arrive somewhere with wi-fi internet access. They have been having some issues with the RV overheating, so they are trying to drive more at night when it is cooler outside. They finally have the RV tail lights fixed for good now, apparantly some of the wiring was wrong, and that was causing them to short out all of the time for no reason. Right now they are about 115 miles outside of Silver City, New Mexico. That is where they are planning on staying for a few days before they head to Tucson, AZ. Mom wasn't very impressed with the living conditions in New Mexico. She said they were driving by lots of run down houses with 15 cars out in the yard. But they started to get into a bigger town called Las Cruces, New Mexico, and things were looking better there. I guess Las Cruces is a big city the size of Chicago but they seemed to enjoy it. That surprised me since they are always commenting on how much they hate big cities! Anyways, they decided to stop and eat in Las Cruces at a Sonic Drive-In, and the food was just ok. Last night they ate a restaraunt in Santa Rosa called Dean's Restaraunt, and they said the food was excellent. Go figure... I guess that is all for tonight. Thanks for reading, and have a good night.

Here's a link to the Las Cruces, NM website: http://www.lascrucescvb.org/
Here is a link to the Santa Rosa, NM website: http://www.santarosanm.org/

Well they are in New Mexico at a campground with internet and cable tv, so they are really living it up tonight. I asked my parents to write the update for tonight, so they could express in their own words what they are experiencing. They did, and I added their text below. They also sent a few actual pictures, mom said not to show you all the ones with her in them but I think that adds to the character of the pictures.. :P They kept telling me all kinds of stuff on the phone about where they are at and funny stuff that's happening, but I didn't have a pen to write it down. In fact I don't even remember the name of the town that they are in right now. I'll have to give you all of that information tomorrow. Here is a link to some of the pictures that they've taken:

<<<CLICK HERE>>>

Heres the update from them:

Today is the first time dad and I got to read the blog. I cried my eyes out . We both laughed and cried . This is and has been an adventure for us right or wrong. We are trying to do the right thing , we are trying to take the good times and bad times in stride. Every day is a new adventure for us because we never know whats going to go wrong with motor home. Poor dad he is so tired of so many repairs we really need to get to a spot and get settled in. The hardest part of this trip is knowing that we are putting so many miles between our children and grand children and us . But hope for dads and my health this is a good move. When our oldest son moved to Port Orchard Washington, that was hard to handle. We knew it was the right choice for him and his family. Then when our daughter and husband and family moved to Rockford, IL. it really bothered us also. We knew it was the right choice for them. When our middle son stayed in Mishawaka with his family we knew it was the right choice for them too. We wont be able to see our children and grandchildren as often as we would love to, but we beleive this is the right choice for us. We can still talk on the telephone everyday as we always do anyway, sometimes more the once a day. Our children are so very special, our oldest is always trying to get us to live with them bless their hearts, a true sacrifice and blessing all of our children are so supportive of us and this move. Whether agree or not they support our decision. We are truly blessed parents with 6 beautiful children Jerry Jr. & Rachel , Kevin & Terri , and Maxine & Rob and 7 beautiful & fantastic grandchrildren, Alex, Jonathan, Joseph, Isaac, Jacob, Kaylee and Sarah. Thank you to our children and grandchildren & everyone. Please keep up the prayers for us, we will write more on trip report next time we get to sit and be able to get on the internet, with this 78 motor home we never know if its gonna be a gas station or truck stop or if we are lucky we will get to next camp ground.

Love to all , Trigger and Destiny / Dad and Mom

Well.. what can I say.. They're settled in a nice little campground, enjoying some down time for the moment. They've had their showers, and mom fried some eggs that dad complained about having to pay $2.56 for a dozen at the gas station. They spent most of their day in Wichita, Kansas looking for a part to finally fix their brake lights because apparently they are still having trouble with them going out, and not working right. They spent the day visiting all of the auto parts stores in Wichita looking for this specific switch they need to fix the brake lights, but no one had the part. They told my dad that they don't make parts for that old of an RV anymore, and that it's amazing that his is even still getting around. Mom was happy because she spotted a Goodwill, (from a mile away) and so they drove down to check it out. They bought mom a new purse for $2.00 and she really likes it. Her old ones zipper was broken so she really needed a new one. Like she really needed an excuse for spending $2.00. Anyways, Wichita is a big bustling city, and they did not enjoy driving downtown looking for the part that they needed. But you gotta do what you gotta do, right? Then they drove about 15 miles outside of Wichita to a town called Goddard, Kansas to stay the night at All Seasons RV campground. I talked to them at about midnight CST and they said that they had to turn the air conditioning on in the Rv for the night cause it was too hot.. Can you imagine? I said just wait you haven't even hit Arizona yet.. The road that they are taking through Kansas is called the Yellow brick road, and we were laughing today because I told them to watch out for tornado's cause if one picks them up they're liable to end up back in Wyatt. The plan for tomorrow is to get the brake lights fixed, and I guess keep moving. But don't take my word for it because you never can tell with these two!!

Here's a link to Goddard Kansas website, so you can see where they are at.. http://www.goddardkansas.us/

After I hung up with them they got everything going again, and got back on the road again. Mom called about 30 minutes later, and said somebody must have been praying for us cause things are working fine again. So they started driving toward Kansas. They stopped around midnight CST to stay the night at a gas station/restaraunt in Bronson, Kansas. They said it rained all night, but that they slept pretty good. They got up about 8 am CST and dad changed the fuel filter on th RV and worked on it a little bit. Then they went in to the restaraunt for breakfast. Mom said the daily special was FRESH ROADKILL SKUNK and it was $6.00 for a big hunk. She couldn't talk dad into trying it so they had sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns instead. They are going to try and cross Kansas today, they left Bronson about 10:30 AM CST. They said that it is rainy and about 65 degree's right now. The gas prices went back up as they got into Kansas, gas prices are at about $2.53 a gallon now. I guess that's all for now, I'll update when I know more!

Mom wanted me to make sure I put on here some big thank you's to all of the family and friends that helped them get out of Wyatt, and get the RV going and looking good. So I wanted to add a big
---------THANK YOU!!!----------

To Aunt Linda for helping mom decorate the camper, and making it look and feel more like a home. Also to Uncle Ronnie for lending them his truck for a couple of days while they were still in Indiana.
To Uncle Jeff for helping dad get the RV going again after all it's problems they were having with it in Indiana.
To all mom's sisters for all the love and support, and for helping mom get all of her things squared away.
To all of their friends, and family members that have been a huge help while they were trying to get out of Wyatt.
I'm sure I forgot someone or some details, but they haven't I'm sure. They just want you all to know that they love, and appreciate you all very much!

Here's a link to look at the stats on Bronson, Kansas. It looks like a very little town on the far south east side of Kansas.
<<CLICK HERE>>

Well I did have more than one update from the folks today, but I just haven't had the words come to mind on what I should say. They spent most of the day in Bowling Green, Missouri getting the RV repaired. Mom said she walked around the little town and and explored a little bit. Then she went across the street to a beauty shop and had her hair washed and braided. The people that owned the garage turned out to be a Pentecostal pastor, and his wife. They were very nice, and the wife took mom to McDonalds, and to a Chinese restaurant to pick up lunch for her and dad. So that was nice.. The repairs cost them $330.00 so they paid, and then headed on their way out of town about 2:00 p.m. CST. They are now about 70 miles outside of Kansas, and they were on a really Narrow winding mountain looking for a campground, but they never were able to find it. While they were driving this very scary mountain side, (they were terrified that they were going to fall off the side) The brake lights went out again, and the RV started overheating. So when I called them they were sitting at a gas station feeling very overwhelmed, and not knowing where to go or what to do next. If you all wouldn't mind saying a prayer for their luck to turn around, I am sure they would really appreciate it. My dad is about ready to just sell the RV and buy him and mom plane tickets to Arizona. He says he don't care what it takes they are going to Arizona. They don't know what town they are in right now, and Dad says he just doesn't even care at this minute. I had to let mom go so they could try to get the brake lights going again. I just really wanted this to be the "trip of a lifetime" for them.. I sure hope and pray things start to turn around for them soon.

Take care all.. I'll update when I know more...

Well they are 15 miles into Missouri, and the RV has a rear wheel seal that is bad, and the brake lights aren’t working still. So they are staying the night in Bowling Green, Missouri at the local Performance Automotive Car Repair shop. They will be having the RV fixed in the morning. The repair shop let them hook up their RV to their electricity so at least they have power. They ate at a buffet called Christy’s and mom said the meatloaf was excellent, they even sent them home with a huge slice of pineapple upside down cake. Tomorrow they will be headed out on 54 West. Trigger and Destiny said goodnight to all!!

Here's a link to Bowling Green Missouri's website:
http://www.bgchamber.org/

Feel free to check it out!

I just received a phone call and they just crossed the Missouri line: gas went from $2.59 to $2.39 as they crossed the Missouri line. The Missouri/Illinois line was on a bridge that they crossed. It was neat... They are planning on staying in Ozark Missouri at the Ozarks campground tonight. I’ll update tonight when I know for sure.

• *Tail light Update** they have no Brake lights but everything else works fine. Trigger went 30 miles north instead of West, and they had to turn around and go back to get on track. But it wasn’t the truck drivers’ fault the signs were messed up. Sounds like they are having a great time.. I'll update tonight on where they are at for sure.

3:49p.m. CST

This is a picture from the internet of the Illinois/Missouri line bridge.

If you feel like you would like to make a donation to the Trigger and Destiny trip of a lifetime fund you can do so here:
TRIGGER AND DESTINY FUND