Turning Delays Into Vaca 2.0

 

      So, by now it's no secret that Barb and I have had some pretty big RV issues this trip and are now marooned in Marlow, OK until our RV is once again certified 'seaworthy'.  I have always practiced good preventative maintenance procedures on the RV.  The only problems we had experienced to this point were, unfortunately self-inflicted.  We did suffer a mishap in Shiloh, IL when I didn't see a pretty big washout on the right side of a tight turn into the park and bent the rear entry stairs.  Our RV is 35' and as such the turning radius can be critical.   I just didn't see this before it happened.  This is still awaiting maintenance as we have just changed our entry/exit to the front door.  

      However, 3 days later we discovered we had blown a wheel bearing on the rear axle.  When I finally found a mobile repairman to help us, we discovered not only the wheel bearing was destroyed but the brakes and entire internal structure was burned, including the spindle.  All needed to be replaced.  Additionally, to our sad surprise we discovered the mounting bracket to the rear TorFlex axle was completely severed.  Initially we didn't think these two issues were related, but now believe they were.  It is by the sheer grace of God that the entire bearing assembly as well as wheel didn't fail catastrophically while on the road and exit the vehicle.  It was recommended that the welded axle 'fix' would not be guaranteed to last so we agreed to a new axle as well.  

       After a week of coordinating, searching, and visiting the closest Dexter Axle Factory in El Reno, OK repair guys was able to special order a new axle with just a 10 day build and 4-day shipping time.  

      By now you'd think we would have reached as well as exceeded our limits of sanity/stress limits.  Believe me it has been hard, yet since my mom's passing, I have been in this vacuum of emotionless and wonder if this hasn't helped.  Things could be worse.  We can afford the repairs, just have to accomplish all this not on our own schedule.  We're retired and our schedule has always been fluid.  We're in our grandson's hometown so there is the priceless opportunity to spend more time with him.  I have been trying to deal with the adversity of aging and stress......growing older gracefully, but this time while Barb set into her forecast mindset of comforting me and cautioning me not to let this ruin our trip, I discovered that I was able to overcome this more easily than I would have imagined.  Barb has always been my 'Rock'.  I love her for this.  This time I think I surprised even her.  I'm not going to turn this into a cathartic post about dealing with the frustrations of like, but I did find this useful.  Funny how age puts the really important things into the proper perspective.  

      According to Robert Half in his 11 methods to deal with adversity and moving on these are the principal caveats.   

• Embrace it
• Practice Self Compassion
• Master Your Emotions
• Make Humor Your Ally
• Engage In Wellness
• Purge the Clutter
• Be Grateful
• Develop a Growth Mindset
• Cling To Your Purpose
• Maintain Confidence In Your Capabilities
• Reflect & Move On

      It seems that time has proven to many of us that adversity is inevitable and that some are able to flourish in trying times, while others seem to struggle to get out of bed in the morning.  Those that exhibit authentic resilience find ways to not just navigate the murky waters of uncertainty, but rather transform adversity into opportunity.  They see it as an essential fuel for life’s journey.  I don't necessarily subscribe to all of these points but did touch on most of them to get through this.    

      So, during the coming days we embraced the delay and set sail on finding a new happiness.  Of course, as time and parts updates surfaced, so did we.  We have spent time each day with our grandson and his family, helped out with driving/transportation chores, and enjoyed several nights dining out at Esperanza, Smoking Joes Rib Ranch, Meers, Store, and Dicintio's Pizza. 

 

       I set my feet firmly in the kitchen and provided meals for us as well as Brock several times a week during our stay.  I only wish I could have cooked some Q.  I even perfected a couple new recipes for Thanksgiving Cupcakes and BBQ Elote' Cups.  Some days Brock ate with us and somedays he did his own thing.  22 years old now, the visits evolve.  

German Scalloped Potatoes with Bratwurst, Onions, Green Pepper, and Cheese

ROTEL Meatloaf

 

Pho

Schwenkbraten 

      We took day several trips to Lawton, OK to the Classic Comic Book Store, Harbor Freight, Whataburger, and even up to the Wichita Mountains one day.  We also did some local geocaching, a hobby we seldom get to enjoy.  We consider ourselves very lucky to enjoy the friendship of our in-laws Rickey and Frankie Blundell.  They have always welcomed us with open arms and unlimited hospitality.  

      What was scheduled to be a 4-day visit turned into a 3 1/2-week vacation.  I have to give BIG UPS to M & M Trailer Services of Marlow and Dexter Axle for their 'rush custom order'.  Their staff was very skilled and helpful on sight and kept me honestly in the loop once we decided to buy new and not weld the axle break.  Marlow Truck Repair - K & B Repair (mmtrailerservice.com)  We also had them remove the rear entry stairs as we plan on replacing/upgrading them.  I have to say the work was excellent and the final price was about half of what I expected.  Barb the Rock was always there.  The fur babies never know the difference, as long as they get their food, treats, and cuddles every day.  Well, we missed out on the Lockhart BBQ Festival, but will now head straight to Leakey for our winter.  In the end we're safer for our travels and our family is still intact.   

“Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” The true secret to success is the ability to embrace adversity as a chance to change ourselves and our situation.

Napolean Hill

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Geocaching SW Oklahoma

 

      Geocaching is a hobby we have both enjoyed for over 10 years now.  We used to be much more heavily involved, but still fit it in when we can.  Simply put participants use navigation skills to find hidden containers or geocaches.  Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects.  Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers.  There are several million geocaches located all over the world.  Sometimes the hiding places can be quite innovative and sizes from micro to large make the task that much more challenging.  It requires a navigational device, such as a handheld GPS, but it is not necessary.  We use the geocaching app Geocaching on our I Phones working well for us. 

      I have known people with over 10,000 finds and others that have that many and are striving to geocache the entire U.S.  Barb and I are still pretty much rookie pioneers that enjoy the sport within reason.  Caches are usually a small container that contain a sign in log and perhaps some trinkets.  You sign off that you found it, exchange one trinket for another, and return it to it's original hidden location.  We have found caches in Michigan, Missouri, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, and Oklahoma accumulating a pretty modest count of 212 finds.

  

Micros are the hardest to find

      There are always caches located nearby every time we camp, but for one reason or another seldom make the effort to get back "on the horse".   Being sidelined here waiting on RV parts is the perfect opportunity to get out and stretch our legs.  There are 7 in our vicinity and even more a few miles more.  

      Setting off we usually decide which cache is closest and work from there.  We dial in the app and find the cache, navigating to as close as we can before setting out on foot.  I do have a Garmin handheld GPS that I carry as well should we have problems.  It is decent exercise with the obligatory lunch break as well.  We even took an hour out to let Roux run in the Duncan 'Bark Park'.  We just had lunch and let her play NASCAR DOG.  

      We started out 'bangers', finding the first 3 easily.  Our luck would not hold as the next 3 were located in the country on backroads and not found.  Checking back with our site we discovered these sites had problems with maintenance in the past and, in fact had not been found since back in April.  On our way back into town we stopped and found 1 more underneath the skirting of a light pole mount.  We finished the day 4 for 7.  Roux did have fun at the Bark Park as Barb and I sat on a bench, eating our lunch and feeding 'Her Majesty' on her pit stops from play.   It was still a pretty nice day with temps at 70 and sunny.  We're gonna try and get out again before we leave.  

"Geocachers are the only people that can get lost, even with a GPS in their hands"

Otis Gore

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Bocadillo de Vaca

 

      Still marooned in Oklahoma awaiting our RV axle I return to the cathartics of my kitchen.  This comes from the traditional kitchens of Spain usually specializing on ham, but this one features beef and pork.  It is a common type of sandwich. The bread may be fresh or toasted, and it can be made with a variety of toppings including cheese and vegetables like lettuce, tomato, onion or pickle slices. Various kinds of mustard and mayonnaise are also common.  Olive oil is such an integral part of not only the Spanish cuisine but also all the traditional cooking done around the Mediterranean.  Not a problem for me, it has been my go-to oil for over 15 years now, Extra Virgin only.  

      Pretty easily and quickly made it is delicious with chips and/or a pickle for a complete meal.  The perfect easy meal for us and our 22-year-old carnivorous grandson.  

4 mini sourdough baguettes

½ pound beef strip steak or Steak Ums 

4 strips cooked, but NOT crispy bacon (you can substitute ham)

1 ripe beef tomato, sliced to fit

Garlic spread or butter

Hidden Valley Ranch Original Secret Sauce

Extra virgin olive oil (use a good splash) 

You can add cheese and/or onions if you like

      Pre-heat your oven grill.  Start by cutting the baguettes in half lengthways and toasting them on one side.  Rub the toasted side of the bread liberally with the garlic spread, then add the tomato, drizzle with some olive oil and arrange the slices of beef/bacon.  Drizzle the Secret Sauce to taste.  Close the bocadillos, slice on the bias, and serve with chips/pickle and a cold beer.  It is quite tasty.  Yeah, I don't know anything about a good Spanish wine. 

“Olive oil is a gunsmith, a watchmaker and a healer”

Spanish Proverb 

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Di Cintio’s Pizza Cucina, Marlow, OK

 

      We ate here last spring on the way north and were quite surprised.  It was our grandson's suggestion.  We could hardly wait to return and dine here again.  I was admittedly surprised at the quality of a small pizzeria in a small Oklahoma town with such BIG FLAVOR.  Red Sauce, Pesto Sauce, Ranch Sauce, and Alfredo Sauce.  The most savory of meats and smoothness of cheeses.  Marlow, OK is a small town in the middle of cotton and cattle country.  It still amazes me to find such eclectic cuisine.  

     Located just east of the corner of Main Street and US Hwy 81 in downtown Marlow, America they have served the same New York Style pizza recipe since 1959.  DiCinto’s Pizza in Marlow was established by Brian DiCintio, who grew up in New York City, but moved to Marlow 40 years ago!    DiCintio's Pizza Cucina  They offer a wide variety of starters, salads, and specialty, house favorites, 'build your own' pizza pies, and available pizza by the slice.  There is dine in as well as an outside patio with which to enjoy your meal.  They are only open Thurs-Sun.  They recently added 'DiCintio’s After Hours'.  Music goes on at 8 pm and ends around 10 pm!  They serve up slices, appetizers and cold beer.  

      We arrived with our ravenous grandson ready to 'pig out' and enjoy life.  We skipped the appetizers, choosing to enjoy our beverage and chat about whatever a 22-year-old wants to.  For our pies, Barb ordered the 4 Meat, Brock and I ordered 'The Don'.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Calories consumed when dining with your grandson don't count nearly as much as normal.  

      Good town with great people, how can you go wrong?  In our case this year we were here for an extended time due to RV repairs (again).  There are several places to dine, but this one was perhaps our biggest surprise.  The food was GREAT and the service top notch. 

 

"Everything you see I owe to pasta."

 Sophia Loren

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