We weren’t very far down the road when we stopped for lunch at a picnic area. I took this picture trying to capture the beauty of the Texas Hill Country in the background … bright green foliage against dramatic puffy clouds in a vivid blue sky. That effort failed but I did succeed in documenting that, at the time of our stop, both trailer tires looked fine. Just a few miles down the road, the tire nearest the trailer door blew out. We really didn’t feel it but Steve noticed another driver looking at us funny and pulled over. It’s a good thing he did as all that was left of that tire was a few pitiful shreds of rubber. Not the best way to start a long drive! Before we got it changed a DOT employee and a State Trooper both stopped to make sure we were okay. The Trooper suggested we should replace the tire asap and directed us to a tire shop in the upcoming town of Brady. As we drove off we passed another car changing their tire and I started to wonder if the tire shop and the Trooper were in cahoots to take advantage of travelers. Especially ones with California plates! Steve thinks I’m being paranoid but I don’t know…