[A/S] Re: My new Texas Belle

[Ebert Steele <k5cad@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I have gone from a trailer back to a MH for the umpteenth time. In 
the past, the change may have been instigated by the need to rescue an 
older trailer or MH.  But this time my wife and I have just convinced 
ourselves that rving with a MH takes less effort than pulling a trailer. 
If we were full timing, I would choose a trailer. Otherwise, I get to 
stand up by the fridge and contemplate something to nibble on while 
Marilyn drives. Here is a quick synopsis of my latest adventure for 
those who may find it interesting.

I had been looking at an AS 300 MH when a couple of weeks ago a 1984 310 
showed up on eBay. I bid but it didn't reach reserve and the seller 
wouldn't respond to my emails. So I went back to looking at the 300LE. 
Then, Bam! I don't know what happened. But it got ahold of me and before 
I knew what was happening, I did it again. For the third time I bought 
an Airstream over the internet.

Armed with Delta frequent flyer mileage I talked a friend into flying to 
Los Banos, California and helping me drive her to Texas. To avoid 
California sales taxes it had to be delivered out of state. The sale was 
consummated in the head cashiers booth at Boomtown, Nevada, just a few 
miles west of Reno last Saturday morning. Don, my cautious and 
conservative friend and co-pilot was engaged in a most daring and 
dangerous adventure, albeit vicariously through me. We headed south on 
CA 395 and missed the turn before we got to Carson City. We needlessly 
climbed  over 9,000 feet and saw Lake Tahoe from the other side before 
we got to Comstock Country RV in Carson City the long way around.

But that wasn't all bad..... Texas Belle showed me what she was made of. 
The Banks system hunkered down and didn't complain once. I guess we 
bonded. And to do that early in the trip left me with a nice warm 
feeling the rest of the way home.

When we packed it in Tuesday night at Butterfield RV Resort in Benson, 
Arizona, I noticed the heavy Banks tale pipe hanging rather low. The 
rubber flex joints of the last two hanger straps had pulled through and 
the muffler, catalytic converter and very large tail pipe were all 
hanging  from one strap over 8 feet forward. One block away was Ace 
hardware still open. Worm gear hose clamps and wire made it tight again 
and lasted all the way home. If you are ever going through Tucson, I 
recommend Butterfield RV Resort. 5 Stars!!!

That is all of the excitement we could muster up for one new-to-me 
Airstream,  bought sight unseen over the internet, and driven over 2,000 
miles to her new home far, far away. The Texas Belle was prettier than 
her pictures and she took a liking to me right away. Five days later we 
were home!

Its nice to have friends who understand how an old man could feel like a 
young kid again and in love with a big hunk of aluminum. When I figure 
out how to post pictures to Yahoo, I will introduce her to you.

Ebert and Marilyn Steele
La Marque, Texas
WBCCI #1083
1991 300Le
1994 30' Excella, looking for a new home.
2001 Dodge 2500, best little silver truck in Texas