You're not going to believe this day, I must have hit the bad luck nail for sure! We started out from Jamaica Beach with weather forecasts saying it would be clearing shortly, but we were several hours south and we still saw drizzling rain and overcast skies. We followed the peninsula south to a long causeway across San Luis Pass, then turned inland and south to reach the next group of islands on the coast. As soon as we came inland, we entered a very industrial area - a huge Dow Chemical Plant in Freeport (we read they produce magnesium and gases like polyethylene, butane, and propane). It looked like a plant from scary movies about ecological disasters! But something new on the landscape instead of same old beach scenes :). Then we passed the farms with cows, goats, and crops. Next was my favorite, the Dept of Corrections area where I added to my collection of local "danger signs" - this one saying, "Hitchhikers may be escaping inmates", and then the less scary danger, look out for tractors on road :). My biggest worry was that we would end up in that correctional facility since I had to pull over to take pictures!!! I'm sure they are watching me now as they believe I'm plotting the next prison break! But so much for the fun today. Next stop was Walmart for a few groceries, and couldn't resist the price of gas - only $1.94/gal so I filled up even though I was only down a quarter tank (gas mileage only 8-9 mpg lately). I had stopped at pump and was just opening my RV door on passenger side, when I heard a terrible grinding sound, thought maybe my door was breaking off! But as I peek out, I realize an elderly gentleman in a pickup truck was turning into the pump next to me and scraped his front bumper across my front wheel well and door to my storage bin :( What can I say, he showed me his insurance card and said he will report it as soon as he gets to office, I took photo of damages and his license plate, insurance card, and carried a piece of my cracked wheel well into the RV to add to my piece that fell off the door flange last week... Thank goodness Linda had purchased some good cookies by the time I met her in Walmart. So we got back on the road to Rockport and had traveled only 10 miles when my phone rang - the Rockport RV park, Wilderness Oaks, asking if I would be there before 5 pm, and as the famous last words left my lips (sure, just 40 miles from you, "I'll be there by 4:30"), I next said to Linda, "what is that horrible sound?" - and then spy in my mirrors the smoke coming from my left rear, and sudden smell of rubber, but no difficulty steering. But I immediately pulled onto narrow shoulder since grass at edge of road sloped downhill, and came out to find my left rear tire shredded with bare rim showing! Further investigation revealed deep cut in inside left (second) rear tire also. We were barely off the road and every time a truck or car passed, the RV rocked and shook, yet I was afraid to move any further off the road so we just sat with emergency blinkers on. Called my friends at Good Sam, then consulted the Ford Emergency Road Service, but Good Sam was "on the way first" - be there in 2 hours from closest tire store in Victoria, TX! And the sun came out finally so we could bake on the side of the road, and I did consider the warnings about rattlesnake country as I tromped through the tall shoulder grass at edge of road! Three different cars stopped to see if they could help, very kind gentlemen, but nothing you could do for shredded tires! And also, about this time, I get a call from my CPA to discuss taxes and some missing paperwork, but I had to skip that call for now - I'll get to IRS prison after I get the tires repaired!! Later I did discover there is a full moon tonight and it is the 13th, but I'm sure that is just coincidence! To his credit, Good Sam man arrived earlier than expected and did a dangerous job of changing the tires very close to the side of the road - I told him I had his back, and stood behind his truck to direct traffic away from his body under the RV. I also discovered that the speed limit on this 2 lane road is 75mph, and it was quitting time at the plants nearby, so cars and trucks were flying! I gave the guy a nice tip, which he tried to decline, but he really did risk his life on this job!! But now 2 new Firestone tires on left rear (Michelin on other tires), and a bill of $750, and we are on the road again. I'll try recouping some cost from Ford warranty, but we'll see. Only 30 miles later at 7pm, we pulled into Wilderness Oaks RV Park in Rockport - we were very late check ins, but thanks to time change, got in just before dark. The manager was waiting for us and did a great job of guiding us directly into our back in spot, was very encouraging after our stressful day, and seemed to approve of my plan to just hook up quickly and bring out some adult beverages! We'll check in officially tomorrow! He did have to bring a converter for the 50 amp hookup since we are 30 amp, but he did that quickly. We do have cable and sewer, so all is covered. A quick dinner of chicken/arugula salad with wine and a gorgeous sunset will finish this day!!