What a Whirlwind!

At just before midnight on the 31st of May, 2016, a major storm struck Chimney Park RV Resort in Mission, Texas.  The storm has been labeled a tornado, a micro burst or straight line winds.  Take your pick - the result is the same.  Destruction and devastation of a large part of the park.

Our trailer was destroyed.  It moved about 60 feet, flipped onto its side landing on a power pole and a cement retaining wall at the park entrance,

When the RV was pulled off the pole it fell apart.  Total write off.  Our shed was also flipped over and moved a short distance.

We had our insurance with Progressive.  The insurance company was wonderful.  Especially Jessica our claims person and Beto the adjuster.  All the administration was done in a professional and timely matter.  Thank you.

It was a difficult matter to remove the remains.  The first two companies sent to deal with the carcass were not able to handle the job.  They wanted to tow it out.  Not happening.  Lloyd (our park manager) found someone who could handle the job.

Lloyd and Wendi have been amazing.  They have been working non stop since the tragedy.  They have spearheaded the clean up, kept everyone up to date on what's happening.  They have also gone above and beyond any reasonable expectations to help those of us who have lost our homes.  Wendi tried to shield Wayne, Kathy and I from the graphic photos.  We needed to see them so that we could wrap our heads around the whole situation.  Thank you both for all you have done.

Kathy, Wayne and I flew to Texas on the 23rd of June to survey the damage and to find a new winter home.  Because we were spooked by the RV flipping over, we decided to look for a manufactured home that would be firmly pinned to the ground.  Also, since the three of us have shared the RV for several years, we had a better idea of what would suit us to share when all off us are fully retired.  We need more room including space for Jack (Kathy's youngest cat).  This meant that any unit we bought needed to have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and would be too large to be moved into Chimney Park.

We are sad to leave our Chimney Park family but excited to start a new chapter in our lives.  Our friends and family can visit us.  Since we were starting fresh, we decided we wanted to be closer to the beach.  After much online research, we focused on the Weslaco area.  It is in the mid valley about a half hour closer to South Padre Island than Mission.

We found the perfect unit for us at Ranchero Village, Weslaco.

Carport is about 50 feet long

Wayne will get a shed very similar to this

The living room door is on the left side of the unit.  I think we will mostly use the door under the carport.  It goes into the utility room.

Now a few shots of the interior:

My tub

Wayne's shower

Our bedroom

Living room

Kathy's bedroom

Kathy's bathroom

Ranchero Village has wonderful facilities including a pool and hot tub with both sunny and shaded lounging areas.

There are two halls, a quilting room, carving room, ceramics room, pool tables, pickle ball and shuffleboard courts.  The park covers 55 acres and once around the perimeter is a mile.  We will get good use from our bikes.

So it has been a wild and woolly time.  Lots of ups and downs. Including plane rides.  Yesterday we were flying back from Texas to Kitchener but we ended up in Toronto instead.  Our van was still in Kitchener.  But that's a story for another day. lol