We decided to stop in Ozona, TX, which is about 77 miles into our 277 mile trip to San Antonio, TX. We drove around this sleepy town for a mechanic. Well, it’s Sunday and no luck. So, John talked to some locals searching for a good mechanic. He was given a couple references, so we drove around looking for their shops. With no numbers on the buildings or houses, it was difficult. Finally we found one of the businesses. HMMMM, looks a bit sketchy, maybe we should locate a Ford Dealership. The closest dealership is in San Angelo, 80 miles north. Well, well…..take a chance with the local mechanic or drive to the dealership? “Dealership”.
Ozona Chamber of Commerce
Ok, now we have to find a place to stay. Searching our GPS software, we found Circle Bar RV Park, 6 miles south of town on I-10.
There is also a truck stop here that has a mechanic, but not on Sunday’s. During check-in at the RV Park, we asked if they knew of any mechanic’s. We were told there is only one real good mechanic, Bill Crawford. He was one of the two mechanics we were told earlier about. We will contact him tomorrow and hopefully, he will have us back on the road in the early A.M. We are hoping the problem is something as simple as a bad Fuel Filter.
After unhooking Taylor, we headed back to town to locate a Wi-Fi connection. Going into town we received a signal from Ozonadq, cool, 40% strength, than 60% and in there parking lot we had 80%. Dang, why can I not connect? I went inside and asked the clerks if they had Wi-Fi, they looked at me like I was an alien. So, they called the manager, who said they did. I asked him if the server was up, he did not know and chances are it was not because of a big storm that came through last night. Feeling a little frustrated, I took the laptop inside. So, now the clerks are watching this alien walk around with a laptop trying to get a signal. OK…no connection. We drove downtown Ozona, which is a square. We parked in front of the First National Bank
and we picked up a signal from “Ozonastockmanap” but not strong enough to connect. John spotted the business named Ozona Stockman Publishing AP, which must be them. We moved the truck in front of the building, were I received an 80% signal and connected. That is when I was able to post the blog for March 17th, check emails, do all the internet stuff.
Ozona Stockman History
Ozona Stockman Publishing
We walked around the square, like tourist. Ozona is in Crockett County, in September they have a festival, this event honors the fallen hero of the Alamo for which the county is named, David Crockett.
OZONA – Biggest Little Town in the World
David Crockett Monument
The tie that binds, by Judy Black
Courthouse
Crockett County Museum
Yosemite Sam selling Ocean Kayaks
Volunteer Fire Department
High School
We needed to make a quick grocery stop for salami and cheese. I did not know how difficult it would be to find a stick or sliced Gallo Salami. After standing in front of the deli meats scanning ALL the meats over and over again in disbelief they did not have it. So, I asked the clerk, he came back with Oscar Myer’s Lunch meat “Cotto Salami”. No sir, it comes in a stick, oh he said, I think I know what you want. He came back with Summer Sausage. Well, I guess that’s close enough. After all that, the Summer Sausage was delicious and sure it’s really good for our heart, just like the cheese.
Ok, it’s back to the RV Park. The park offers 96 pull through RV Spots w/ full hook-ups, cable TV, Laundry mat, showers, pool, rec room, Cocktail Lounge, Party Barn, & Auto Museum. After setting up Taylor with Water, Electricity and Cable, John decided to watch some golf. Final day of the Bay Hill Classic. A severe weather alert was given on T.V. “Tornado watch for Crockett county till 11:00pm; tornado watch means conditions are favorable tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.” Oh SHIT!!! Now what? I went up to the office to talk to Felix (Office Worker) about the storm. He proceeded to letting me know Ozona has a tornado siren but, the storms by pass frequently in this area and he did not seem to be worried about the Tornado Watch. But, if there happens to be a tornado heading toward us, that we need to evacuate to the bathrooms in the RV Park. OK, now I feel a little better. We continued our conversation. Felix is born and raised in Ozona. He’s a volunteer firefighter and paramedic for Crockett County and works at the RV Park part time.
Oh, I didn’t tell you about the Auto Museum at the RV Park. I asked Felix about the Auto Museum on the premises. The museum is of cars that Tom Mitchell owns and raced and Chet Fillip was his driver. There are also some vintage car’s he’s rebuilt and a couple of boat toys. Tom is a local billionaire in Crockett County and made his riches by pumping oil and ranching Long Horn Steer in the fields surrounding the RV Park, which he also owns. The museum is now a dust collector, which also includes several trophies. I told Felix I would love to take some pictures of the cars but they would not turn out if I took them through the window. He was kind enough to letting me inside the museum.
Cobra 427
1927 Ford Sprint T
Speed Boat
I went on to asking him about the “Cocktail Lounge”, “Party Barn” and Pool. Not sure how many years ago, but that’s just what they are. Cocktail were served in the lounge, they threw parties in the barn. Because of to many fights and wild parties, people were being thrown in the pool, which is why these areas are closed.
Party Barn
Texas pool party
Ok, it’s off to do the laundry, which is very cheap, $1.00 to wash and .50 to dry. During my walks to and from the laundry, I noticed the storm coming in. The sky was getting dark and eerie. Now we are reading the ticker across the TV, that we have a Tornado Warning, till 5:30pm. Tornado Warnings are more severe and taken seriously. We were told the Sheriff would come around if we needed to evacuate. We learned this from a local person camping at the park. Well, Felix was right, the storm by-passed us and we are all safe.
John watching storm pass by
Storm passing on by
View from East during the storm
We ended our day with looking at the reflection of the sunset in the east after the storm.
