DOWNTON ABBEY, SPIFFY MOTOR HOME.

Yesterday was supposed to be a cruise out to South Padre Island. We had an appointment to have the motor home and Bronco washed and waxed today.  The two guys knocked on the door after washing a motor home a couple lots over and offered to get it done yesterday before we headed out for the day. They finished and we decided the windows needed washing on the inside. Then we lubricated the window tracks, washed all the screens, and just kept digging. We put off South Padre Island for later today. The motor home looks spiffy inside and out.

But, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported that Seattle had the highest viewership in America last night for the premiere of the third season of ‘Downton Abbey, as reported by public television station KCTS 9.

Boston loves ‘Downton Abbey’ second best.

Austin was third most enamored, and darn, they don’t even broadcast  PBS in Harlingen.

New York came in fourth (*sniff*), PBS reported in a press release.

I guess Downton Abbey has become a national obsession. I’m feeling so culturally deprived.
I finally finished a huge book I’d been reading, it seems forever, Life by Rolling Stone,  Keith Richards. Quite a life indeed.

And, I read this  marvelous sketch about RVing from Jim’s friend Bud Kuball  He addresses Jim as Marco and signs Edwuardo, the CB names they chose while traveling to Panama and back in 2004.

Marco:Skiing @ around the 10,000 foot level in the Rocky Mountain West
when the temperature gets down to a MINUS 30 at night & you’re in a
PROPERLY equipped motorhome with sufficient solar panels,6-volt
batteries,back-up generator,heated water system,frost-free
windows,satellite tv & enough propane to last 10 days WITHOUT
hookups–plus 4 wheel drive & 8 commercial snow tires on the ground
with a 9000 pound winch up front–now that’s RVing!! With the sun
turning the snowflakes into sparkling jewels during the day &
cross-country sking on the high plateaus of Grand Canyon, Zion & Grand
Teton National Parks under a FULL moon making the snowflakes glisten
like diamonds & listening to the mournful howl of a grey wolf —now
that’s one of the joys of a PART-TIME RV’R. Adios.Eduardo.

I love his description of snowflakes like diamonds under a full moon because I’ve experienced that including the mournful howl of a wolf. Bud is a world class adventurer and writes prolifically and well about his experiences all over the world. Most  are published in TWA Magazine. Bud is a former TWA pilot.

BUD AND JULIE-FUN FRIENDS IN VEGAS

Bud Kuball, a Korean War fighter pilot, and a retired career pilot for TWA, traveled to the Panama Canal and back in his motor home with Jim in 2004. Julie flew back and forth to join them several times during that 343 day trip, but not for lack of an adventurous spirit. Julie had some health problems at the time and couldn't stay for long periods on the rough roads.
We joined them for cocktails and conversation for an afternoon with other friends of their's and didn't even think about taking pictures until just before time to leave. Julie, who weighs 96 pounds, is small and mighty. She likes to direct things. "No, you can't take the picture THAT way. We have to pose."

No, Jim, not like that...

Like this:

Bud, at 82, likes to ski and write. He publishes pieces for the TWA magazine about his world adventures, which are many. He sends them to Jim where ever he is on the road.

Their adventures in Panama have been captured in Jim's book, which is available at: http://www.lulu.com/panamaorbust