Texas trip preparation

[GrandpaDave]

Greetings everyone,
My wife and I had given up on getting to go south this winter as my cancer treatment was scheduled to include a stem cell transplant which would have meant moving to Rochester for the months of February and March. The bad news is the cancer has progressed on the chemo drug I was on so the stem cell procedure had to be cancelled. My doctor decided on a new chemo drug to be administered by infusion. He agreed we could arrange to have it administered at a cancer center in Texas so we're talking to doctors and getting medical records sent down there. We hope to have a decision on the center that we want to utilize by Tuesday.

Now for the exciting part.... We purchased a new enclosed trailer a month ago that we can tow behind our motorhome that we acquired last fall. This weekend my daughter and son-in-law came down to visit and help me get the wheel chock, tie-downs and spare tire carrier installed in the trailer. We fired up the motorhome and moved it out where we can easily load it for the trip. The adjustable hitch ball mount for the motorhome will be here on Tuesday so I can make sure the trailer is trailing nice and level behind the motorhome.


We're planning on two months in the Texas Hill Country and then back to Mayo in Rochester on ourway back home in April for more scans and tests to see how the drug is working.


Here's a few pictures of everything including the trike inside the trailer today. I was surprised how small it looks sitting in that trailer.

[1dn5up]

Wishing you all the best Dave, hope your treatment works out for ya. Prayer sent.

[Gone2Three]

That's a nice setup Dave! Here's hoping that your new treatment will be a success... Our continued prayers for you. Thinking the weather will be nice for the time your down here so you'll be able to get some good riding in

[Ed Hobgood]

Hoping everything works out for you on your treatment. It looks like you have a great set up for going south for the winter with the trailer for the trike.

[LadyonaMission]

I hope your treatments in Texas do wonders for you. I will plan on being in the Hill Country to ride with you and Peg again this year, just let me know when and where.

Have a safe trip.

[GrandpaDave]

I hope your treatments in Texas do wonders for you. I will plan on being in the Hill Country to ride with you and Peg again this year, just let me know when and where.

Have a safe trip.

As soon as we have a definite schedule we will let you know.

Dave

[jjvw]

Sorry your cancer is getting worse, but hope to get the chance to ride with you in the Hill Country. We will be at Medina High Point, feb 16- mar 16
Jan & John

[Zammy]

Beautiful looking rig Dave, sending some good karma your way for your treatments.

[desertclassic]

Prayers for success in the treatment. Nice rig, you have enough room in the rig to hide out. Be safe on the trip. Jim

[Bronson512]

I hate to hear anyone mention the old C word. I know there are many places working hard to help with answers but breakthroughs seem so slow.

Thats sure a dandy rig you've got and sounds like you've got some great family support.

Good Luck with your treatments and your trip and you've got a family in KY sending prayers your way.

[LadyonaMission]

The high today in San Antonio is predicted to be 89. Hope you packed shorts and flip flops for hanging out around the camp ground.

[GrandpaDave]

The high today in San Antonio is predicted to be 89. Hope you packed shorts and flip flops for hanging out around the camp ground.

We're loading clothes and anything else that will not freeze in the motorhome today. I think tomorrow's high temp here is +2 degrees and Thursday's morning low is -14. We're ready to head south for sure. Look forward to seeing you.

Dave & Peg

[GrandpaDave]

Temps finally started to climb out of the cellar a bit today into the mid 20's above that is. This afternoon we loaded Peg's RAV into the trailer behind the trike and tied it down. We hooked up to the trailer and did a light test and all is well. Here's some pics of our rig ready to head south.

[Catfish]

Have a safe trip Dave. All the best and prayers in recovering from your medical situation.

[Gone2Three]

Temps finally started to climb out of the cellar a bit today into the mid 20's above that is. This afternoon we loaded Peg's RAV into the trailer behind the trike and tied it down. We hooked up to the trailer and did a light test and all is well. Here's some pics of our rig ready to head south.

And from the looks of it not a minute too soon...come on down! The weather's been great
By the way...what's all that white stuff on the ground there???
Have a safe trip!

[desertclassic]

Be safe, we will keep you in our prayers. Jim

[Railroad Triker]

We have good times and bad times fighting cancer. When things go bad, you gotta get tough bro, once again. Kick it's butt, you can do it. Carol n my prayers are with you both.
Check out M.D? ANDERSON hospital in Houston. It is #1 cancer center in US.
we moved from Medina, to Old River rv park in Kerrville. The new park. They still have a few vacancies. Medina is going down hill fast. Do not have cell service there any more at Medina. It is a ghost town, maybe 15 rv's total there. They are on 3rd manager in 1 year.
contact me for more info. There are about 6 of us here now, another 6 or more coming here next year.
see you guys soon. Be safe.

[GrandpaDave]

Well, I'm happy to report we did, as several of you above know, make it to Texas arriving on Feb 12th. This being the first time driving the motorhome over 200 miles in a sitting I was totally sold on it's handling with my extras in the trailer.

We found an Oncologist that could do my treatments in Kerrville which was quite handy. Unfortunately my health didn't hold up as well as expected, sudden drop in platelets requiring 8 units transfused while there, Several AFIB flare-ups - the last included an ambulance ride, all day ER stay, 2 units of blood and our last night in Texas I spent in ICU. The doctor put me on some medicine that has successfully stabilized the heart beat and I'm doing better. Whatever was/is going on caused me to drop 14 lbs in about 2 weeks. Sad to say, right now I didn't have anything to spare.

Enough of the down side on the trip. I did get to ride the trike as I would have used a golf cart around the park so I got out to visit friends and neighbors most days. Didn't dare venture out on the highway though. It felt so good being in the warmer climate where the term 'jacket' was optional.

When we were out and about my wife drove our Toyota around the country and I got to look at all the scenic views that I couldn't focus on when I was driving the trike last year.

Many thanks to fellow TT members Goldrush (Jerry), Lady on a Mission (Lola) and JJVW(John and Jan) for the day you spent visiting Peg and I while there. We started out with a great breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Kerrville on a Monday morning and then a grilled burger lunch at our place and lots of great conversation as we relaxed in our motor coach. I have a couple of pictures on this I'll share.

We have made many good friends on our two stays at Medina High Point Resort and we love being back up in the hills with nature. The fact the resort has what I now consider a capable, friendly and accommodating staff made it great for us. They have large comfortable parking spaces, a great bar and grill, buffet meals on the weekends with live music for our entertainment, store, fueling station, and recreational facilities to utilize.

Due to my unexpected health issues we had to cut our 2 month stay to just one and actually flew our daughter and son-in-law down to drive us back up to North Dakota. Many thanks to Lady on a Mission (Lola) for graciously picking them up at the San Antonio airport and bringing them to the hospital in Kerrville so my wife could be there with me. It's hard to express how much that meant to us.

We are safely back at home and I'm headed to doctor appointments on Wednesday to figure out what's going on.

I've never figured out how to put text in between pictures so I'll tell you what I'm posting and it should be fairly obvious.

1. Peg and I relaxing in the afternoon with a bit of refreshments waiting for the 4:00 pm Happy Hour group to show up.

2. Two pics of fellow TT members mentioned about visiting us for the day.

3. Our camp site and transportation.

4. Our rig back home tucked in after the trip.

Would have loved to have more entertaining things to show but maybe next year.

[LadyonaMission]

I do hope you make it down next year and are able to stay as long as you want.

Lola

[Gold Rush]

Hey Dave. We are so glad you made it back home and got the rig tucked away before the storms stranded you!! That would not have been any fun . Hopefully the guys and gals at Mayo will figure out what's going on and get you patched up. Sure would be nice to get a few good days of riding in next year!!!

Take care my FRIEND and tell that bride or your HOWDY for us.