DAY 62
Week 9
AUSTIN (Texas, USA)
Monday August 21st, 2006
TODAYS MILEAGE – 55 miles or 89 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 7847 miles or 12629 kilometres
Can you get dramas from an RV that is parked???
After moving the Man Pad last night, I went back to the Wal Mart to sort out a few things in regards to clothing and the like. While I was there, some shiela pulls up in a Ford Tribute, says she's the landowner and forcibly demands that pack up my RV and to leave the car park immediatly. No "Hi, I'm such and such" or "Are you aware of any parking restrictions" not even so much as a by your leave.
As stated previously in my web ramblings, Wal Mart has a policy of extending an open welcome for any RV owners to stay overnight in their car parks as long as they follow a couple of simple rules:
• Park you vehicle at the extremities of the car park so as to not impede traffic or it's flow.
• Keep the area where you've parked neat, tidy and free from rubbish.
• A maximum stay of 3 nights per visit.
I've abided by these rules on numerous occasions and have had absolutley no dramas at all. Prior to today, the only time anyone has fronted me about staying there, was in Detroit. But I think it was more of a case of the rent-a-cop being concerned for my state of mental well being, as I was literally the only Cracker in tha 'hood.
It was like being a red coat in Zulu Dawn. 
I tried to explain to this woman what Wal Marts standing policy was, plus the fact that there were no signs pertaining to her statements, but this fell on deaf ears. Every time I would try and make a point, while retaining a low key manner and somewhat soothing tone of voice, she would arc up and threaten call the Police, have me arrested and to have the Man Pad towed at my expense. Talk about her being combative. I ascertained that she is a leasing agents representative, a far cry from being the land owner, but regardless - there was no reasoning with her. She would have done Napoleon proud with her arrogance.
Towards the end of this rather one-sided conversation, I glanced down to her hands and found not a skeric of jewelry on her fingers and no tell tale of a white band indicating that any rings had recently been removed. This brought a wry grin to my face which she noticed. "Do you think this is funny" she blurts out. I just shake my head while thinking that she wonders why she has no man in her life, as with her attitude - she couldn't get laid if she was an egg.
Not wanting to inflame the situation, I asked if she would allow me a couple of hours to move the RV and begrudgingly was allotted (in her words) the courtesy to leave it there until sundown. I simply didn't trust this troll to keep her word, so I managed to get a hold of Christine and move the unit to a Budget Storage & Parking facility. I did ring the Wal Mart manager, Frank, and he agreed whole heartily with me on his companies policy with RV parking, but seeing as they were only the leasee and not the land owner, he would verify that for me.
Frank rings me back and lets me know that the community policy is no overnight parking in any car parks and this is part of the covenants of the lease, which were previously unknown to Wal Mart, up until my situation. He also informed me that Wal Marts property managers found another store close by, with the same restrictions and these were the only ones they'd heard of with such restrictions and Walmart were working on rectifying the anomalies.
Thankfully, after all the shenangins during the day, the evening was pretty cruzy. A mate of mine and myself got a bite to eat at Sherlock's Baker Street Pub which has a weird Pommie theme to it. The food was pretty ordinary but Her Majesty's on-tap draught fluids were great.
I'm also planning a visit to Corpus Christi this weekend, so it's been a bit busy - as Monday's go.
Ooroo.