As I was hooking up the Airstream in hot July 98 degree weather, I wondered if the plan I dreamed of all year was worth it?

There are two interviews scheduled for my radio show. I am staying at the Pecan Grove RV park in south Austin. It’s a hippy dippy kind of place. We stayed there years ago. It’s one of the last hold outs for RV spots in this area. Other’s sold out to condos. The people are nice and friendly. While there Mon-Thurs, I never had to drive once. I brought some food and there are restaurants to walk to. There is even a food truck park. My dog, Luna, and I walked all around.

I had concerns that it might be awkward to invite guests into the Airstream, as it is also my sleeping quarters. When my brother made me a closet (see previous blog post of trip to Oklahoma). I had to sacrifice the bedroom accordion pleated sliding door. Glad to see it go, but need a replacement. The guests are not strangers, but we have mutual contacts. Not sure that I’d invite complete strangers here alone?

To my delight, it all worked out really well. The guests came in, one each day, we chatted, and I recorded the interview. It is so much quieter than using any public place. The audio went directly into Pro Tools, the editing software that I use. This is better than using my field recorder since you an tell so much more visually during the recording. I even started editing right there. All with Luna, by my side, keeping me company.

One of my previous professors, Alex, dropped by for coffee. He is about to get his PhD. He just completed a feature film. He gave me advice for admission to UT Austin in Sept 2015 and becoming part of the UT radio station they recently bought, who is affiliated with NPR.

I left on Thursday morning. All and all, a smooth, fun, enriching trip. Made a couple of new friends.

Have amusingly noticed that since I am one of the rare women traveling in an RV alone, men like to come out as I am unhooking and give me advice. I have a bit of advice to give them. Teach your wife how to do all these hook ups, don’t wait till something happens and she has to learn it on her own.

As I’ve said on this blog, Its so fun to go, but equally good to get home!!!

My girl power confidence is not the same as when I left. There is still the nagging voice that says that I either have to figure it out myself or stay home.

My personality is to always look on the positive side. When I got home I backed the Airstream into the driveway. I’ve had it in storage for the last 3 yrs, partly because I didn’t think I could back it in the driveway. But I did.

A couple of days after I  returned home, it was Independence day, July 4th. From my porch I could see the fireworks over the lake.

Next, I am going to Austin next week, the first (besides the skaters) interview in my mobile studio.

My trip home, from Oklahoma, started out fine. Just before I left, I practiced backing up the Airstream (AS) in my brother’s long diveway. It didn’t come easily, but if backed up about 2 ft at a time and stop to think..ok, I need the back of the AS to go this way, so I turn the wheel this way. I was getting it. Yea! Girl Power!

I had the truck serviced before I left SA, but did not do it when I left OK. Maybe a mistake? I took Hwy 281 on the way up. I only hit traffic in Marble Falls. What I didn’t like is, there is long stretches of 2 lanes. I had to straddle the shoulder so cars could pass. It felt a little scary.
Decided to take I35 on the way back, just set cruise control, and glide all the way home. My main concern was going through Austin during rush hour. I set my GPS, but it told me a weird way to go, back to the map.

It’s a really hot day but things were going well until about Ft Worth. It felt like I was losing power steering, but at that moment I hit bad traffic. The breaking was also getting difficult. I pulled over after I got out of the traffic in West, Tx, above Waco.
I had no idea?? Thought about calling my brother, but couldn’t get cell service. I have roadside assistance but have to find a phone. .About that time a young guy stopped, he said “you blew a belt” ( guess he could see it?) and your truck is also over heated. He called a garage nearby for me. He said “wait till the truck cools down, then drive to the mechanic, they‘ll take care of you“. I thanked him. He said , “my mom drives a RV, goes everywhere, and I would hope that someone would help my mom is she needed it.” That was so sweet. I didn’t even get his name.

So I got a lawn chair from the truck, found some shade. So Luna, my black dog, and I sat on the side of the road. I felt incompetent, stupid, scared, frustrated, that all turned to tears. I really felt bad about the over heating, I kinda knew that, not to let a vehicle get heated, kinda?? But never thought to look a gauge, didn’t really know which one it is? I rarely drive the truck. I remember that overheating can cause damage to the motor.

After an hour, drove to the garage, they were busy. Told me that I had to unhook the AS. There I was in the blazing sun, doing the unhook, there were 3 older guys, standing there watching me, no one offered to help. Another low point, I was really losing my girl power. While I was sitting in that hot mechanic shop, after enduring a lecture about the damage overheating can do to a motor, I thought I should re think my whole idea of solo travel by this method.

So 4 hours and $561.00 later, at 5 pm, I left with a new water pump, belt, and pullies (??). In this situation, you just have to “pay the piper“. The rest of the trip was uneventful, except I was really tired. No problem with Austin, since I passed through after 8:30 pm. Didn’t get home till after 10. I often say that it’s fun to go but equally great to get home. It felt so wonderful to take a shower and fall into my own bed.

After a good nights sleep, realized I did conqueror my greatest fear. What would I do if I had car problems alone on the road? Now I know, sit on the side of the road and cry. Hehe. Like all things in life, you get through with a positive attitude and by one step at a time and hopefully with a little girl power.