This past week has definitely been a trial of my faith and all things holy.

It wasn't all bad and Ol' Dutch did just happen to save three people from certain death in a house fire. One of which was our beloved Miss Trixie. But that's a story for another day.

What we did have this past week was an extreme cold snap that reached down into the heart of Texas like a bad burrito. This was a little too much adventure for even Ol' Dutch whose middle name is Indiana Jones the second.

As per normal winter preparations, Miss Trixie and Ol' Dutch had secured adequate propane to keep the Ol' Conestoga warm through the winter. But we were ill-prepared for our furnace to fail in the middle of 9-degree nights.

We called around to get the repairs done and soon learned that there were no furnace parts available anywhere in the USA.  But God was gracious and we were able to get a fan motor albeit after four more days of waiting and freezing our buns off. More about Miss Trixie's buns also later.

The repairman finally showed up parts in hand and we soon had heat. Our conversation turned to how many things seem to break on an RV and he said, "Well you know, these campers aren't made to be lived in especially in cold weather."

My mind did a quick turnaround to the day I bought the darned thing and I distinctly recall the salesman telling me "This RV has the polar package and is designed for extremes in temperatures. And they are built to industry standards which means they can be lived in full-time for an adventurer like yourself.”

There are several reasons I bought into the lies including the lure of the open road, horizons yet unseen, distant places yet unexplored, fish to be caught, animals to hunt and "to boldly go where no man has gone before." Well, something like that anyway.

I am sure that all of you can relate to being sold a pig in a poke. And if not that then maybe you got sold a "cat in a bag" or "took a shot in the dark" or maybe even "chance one’s arm.”

The latter of which I had to Google but now plan on using that phrase liberally to impress the uninformed at potluck dinners.

But regardless, whether buying an RV is a pig or not, they sure do take a lot of maintenance which is another word for moolah.

So, you already know we got the furnace fixed and we were all ready to start "living the dream" when the water heater quit. So here we are now, taking showers with an eye dropper and washing dishes in a bucket until such time as it warms enough to get a new hot water tank installed.

Get an RV they said. It'll be fun they say. I am beginning to think that people who tell a person that are RV owners who do not want to suffer alone in the dregs of repair land purgatory. Either that or they are old Timeshare Salesmen on the sly. Just remember, it will be fun.

Kevin Kirkpatrick and his Yorkie, Cooper, fish, hunt, ATV or hike daily. His email is [email protected]. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.