First car breakdown....

It was bound to happen sooner or later and I'm just glad it happened where it did. I left Grand Prairie, Texas heading to Shreveport on Monday, May fourth at 9:30am on what was to be a three hour drive heading East. I had filled up my gas tank and should have had enough gas to get me to my friends Sarah and Nathan's home. I don't like driving with less than half a tank of gas not really knowing where the next station is so I pulled off in Tyler, Texas about one hundred miles from my final destination. After I filled my tank I go to start the car up and it wouldn't start. To someone like myself that only knows how to put gas and in a car and drive it any problem will sound like its the battery. I saw a gentleman with a truck that looked like a service truck and asked if he would mind giving me a jump. He was eager to help me but he started telling me it sounded like it was my starter. He tried giving me the jump and it still wouldn't start. He told me he could put in a new starter for me but I kindly rejected his offer since I have a AAA and also GoodSam roadside assistance so decided to call them instead. 

The AAA guy showed up and tried jumping the battery, it didn't start.  So then he got a hammer and got under the car and banged on what I assume was the starter and it still wouldn't start. So then I called Good Sam Club because they would tow me to the nearest capable repair facility that guarantees to fix the issue. I have to thank my friends that gave me this premium membership for two years because it wouldn't of been cheap to not only tow the car but also Motel Miguel. 

Patrick from Crown towing showed up and loaded the car up and when he was going to hook up Motel Miguel he had a small issue with threading a brand new hitch ball to his bumper. Somehow it wouldn't thread all the way. The nut got jammed and no matter how much he tried it wouldn't budge. He broke one pipe wrench and I just had to burst out laughing. He couldn't believe it had broken and just tried another. 

You can see the broken pipe wrench in this photo and also where the nut had gotten stuck. 

He pulled, he pushed and no matter how much he tried that nut wasn't moving. He finally gave up and called the office and I'm assuming they told him to try hitching Motel Miguel up to it and secure it with the chains. 

As he was backing the hitch up to hook up Motel Miguel he pinched the electric connection wire cable and tore a couple of wires in half. He saw me take a picture of it. I didn't let it upset me because these days I don't let negative stuff get to me, it's not worth it and everything is fixable. 

He finally had us hooked up and I was towed seven miles to Goolsbee Tire Service and Repair in Tyler, Texas.  On the way to Goolsbee Patrick called in to his office told them we were on the way and also informed them about the accident with the electric wires and they said they would pay for a new replacement. Thankfully it's only an hour away and they have a zoo in Tyler. Sarah and I will be making a day trip out of it and taking baby Nova to the zoo when the new wire comes in. 

Motel Miguel was unhitched out in a dirt field next to the repair shop....

Patrick dropped off the car inside the shop....

And after hearing his story about suffering a heart attack last year and having such a positive attitude about life these days and not stressing about petty things that are easily solved how could I not take a selfie with Patrick!

I spoke to the gentleman at Goolsbees and they told me they would really try to have my car fixed by the time they closed but that it might not be until tomorrow. So I told them I would really appreciate it if they got it fixed but if not I have to remember that home is where you park it. So I set up Motel Miguel up, pulled the awning out, put a chair out, grabbed my IPad and did some reading. 

A couple of hours later my car was fixed, Motel Miguel's cable was temporarily fixed and I was on the road again. 

This is one of the reasons I like leaving for any new destination early in the day so that if there is a snag in my trip I can hopefully get back on the road and continue travelling. 

I arrived in Louisiana!

Wasn't difficult at all to find Sarah and Nathan's home and parked Motel Miguel!

Finally got to meet baby Nova in person...

With her best friend Thor, the Greatdane that always makes sure to try and keep her out of harms way!

By the way, I love the nighttime sounds of the crickets and all the critters here. I woke up at 4am and was listening to them so I decided to update my blog. It's peaceful times like this that make me appreciate what I'm going through and thankful again for the wonderful friends I have in my life, without them none of this would be possible. 

I have to go now, I'm going birding this morning with my friend Dot, she is so full of life and one of a kind. Check back soon because I'm sure it will be an adventure, HAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Moms will always be there for you!

My Mother, Ramona Rocha Padilla, means the world to me. The only reason I didn't start my travels until November 1, 2014 was because her 75th birthday was on October 20th. There was no way I was going to miss such a celebration of her life, after all we had family coming in from all over to surprise her. 

Surprised she was, we had led her to believe she was attending a friends wedding. My brother Rigo is always thinking ahead and even had her knit one of her beautiful blankets supposedly as a gift. What he didn't tell her was that it was being raffled off at her own celebration so one lucky person would have one of her pieces of art because that's what they really are. 

A very rare occasion these days is being able to gather the entire family all at once. For future reference, when some of us have a hard time remembering everyone's names I hope this comes in handy. On the top row from left to right there's Carlos the second youngest, Adolfo is #6, Abelardo is #7, in the middle row is George the youngest and only one with an English name, then it's myself Miguel and I'm #4, then Bertha #2, Martha is #1, Rigoberto #8 and in the front is Oralia #3 our father Fidel and our Mother Ramona and finally my youngest sister Arminda who is number 5. 

I had not seen my Mother since October 31st so I was really missing her. We are a family that tries to get together once a week. Not everyone makes it because of distance or previous commitments and work schedules. So this has been a little hard to do and being away from her at her age one never knows how long we might have them with us. 

It was with a great surprise that she flew out to Dallas and spent a week with me and my cousins. 

We had a good time going to different attractions here in the Dallas-Ft Worth area and I think she really enjoyed herself. 

At the entrance to one of the best zoological facilities I have ever been to The Dallas World Aquarium. 

We spent an evening with some of my cousins and one of my mothers sisters was also here from Mexico visiting. 

We also went to the Ft Worth zoo. 

She even helped with some Migueling!

She really enjoyed the famous Ft Worth Longhorn cattle drive. 

She even got her picture taken with a real cowboy in Ft Worth!

The night before she was to leave my cousins once again had a small family gather to wish her well. 

One week was way to short of a timeframe to spend with her but we all must continue in our journey. I think Dad was really missing her back home!

I will remember the joy in her face and until I see her again I send her my love!

Dallas has been incredible!

I have been here for a couple of weeks and have seen so much beauty. To me beauty has many meanings, the colors of new growth on every plant in the spring time, the people I meet and their incredible generosity, the birds and animal life I see and even the angry sky above. 

My cousin Jorge has been the kindest most generous person one can ever meet. He has a beautiful family here in Dallas and they welcomed me with open arms even though we hardly knew each other. I'm thankful for the time we have spent together and will always remember their warmth and hospitality. 

I got to see an art street fair in Ft Worth 

The Ft Worth Botanic gardens were so colorful and beautiful. The birds were singing all around me. 

The roses smelled wonderful 

All the other flowers were just breath taking 

I have never seen a real Longhorn cattle drive

The best surprise so far in my adventure was this week when my Mother surprised me by coming to Dallas to see me because she missed me. 

I have really treasured this week so far and getting to spend time with her

My cousin took me to my very first crawfish boil at his companies appreciation for their vendors

I think I lost weight peeling them for that tiny bit of meat you get out of them!

I even had lunch at the famous Gas Monkey Restaurant 

I really enjoyed talking to some of the students at Rockwall High Schools AVID program about my trip and that if you want something all you have to do is go out and do it, nothing holds you back other than oneself!

I really must thank my friend Daryl Richardson, owner of The Dallas World Aquarium for having my Mother and I as guests of this world class facility. There really is no other like it and brings so much joy to so many. 

The animal, and specially the bird collection, is unrivaled. 

Rockwall High School

Sometimes in life you meet individuals that have an impact on your life for the better and this is one of those stories. Back in December when I was traveling through Tucson I met Dr Courtney Gober and his wife Devyn. I was touring the Biosphere 2 and we were all in the same guided group. At one point Dr Gober asked me if I would like for him to take my picture with my regular camera, he must have seen me awkwardly trying to take selfies with my phone!   

As the tour progressed we had the opportunity to chat about what I was doing with my life and the journey I was on. The end of our tour came and we were in the gift shop where we were able to ask an unsuspecting bystander if they would take our picture. Before we said our goodbyes Dr Gober gave me his business card and asked that when I reached Dallas to please give him a call. I wrote to Dr Gober afterwards and he asked if I would like to speak to some of his students about my journey. I agreed to it and that I would be in touch with him when I reached Dallas. 

Fast forward five months and I finally made it to Dallas. Dr Gober and I arranged that I would come on Monday, April 20 to speak to five different classes of students in the Schools AVID program. These are typically the first in their family to be on track to enroll and attend college. It was with great honor that I was welcomed into their classrooms, seeing the eagerness in their faces to hear what I have lived and hopefully inspired some of them to go out, set their mind to any goal they can dream of and work towards attaining it. 

I wore my overalls and hat on purpose for the very reason that this has been what I have been wearing throughout my trip. That it doesn't matter what you look like in order to enjoy life and to not judge the book by its cover. 

Dr Gober would introduce this farmer looking individual to the classroom and then I would tell them about my life experiences and amazing friends in my life. 

Every class was given the opportunity to ask me questions, which there were many intelligent ones and  hopefully I answered them with inspirational responses. 

The classes ranged in grades from 9th through 12th. 

My hat has gotten its own fan club!

In each class I asked if anyone would like to take random photos and here are a few. 

I want to thank everyone that I had the honor to meet at Rockwall High School and wish them the best of luck in all of their future dreams and endeavors.