Hogtied and Branded

After getting the VW fixed, we completed our vehicle registrations without difficulty. The next step was to get our Texas driver's licenses.

Our first encounter with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) was none too thrilling. We didn't have the VW registered yet, and the Texas rule is that "all your vehicles" must be registered in Texas. Technically, the VW was still owned by the Montana LLC, so we could have argued otherwise. But our plan was to sell it to ourselves and register it here, so we got that done first.

Later that day we returned to the DPS office, filled out the forms and presented all our paperwork for licenses. We knew that we would need to take a written and a road test, since our motorhome was over 26000 pounds. We both took and flunked the written test since we had not been given the study guide and didn't know in what year 2 tail lights became mandatory, among other irrelevant details.

Texas gives you three chances to pass within 90 days. We got a copy of the study guide, went home and studied (1960 was the year) and returned the next day, passing the test with ease. We then scheduled the road tests the next day.

The road test requires that we drive our own motorhome around town, stopping turning, backing up, and of course following all applicable laws and signs. Consuelo went first and passed without incident.

Then I got in, stopped my normal routine to listen to the inspector's instructions, and then started the engine and pulled out onto the road. The inspector immediately told me to pull over and stop the engine, which I did. Then she told me I had failed for not fastening my seat belt. Yikes!

I scheduled to take the test again the next day, which I did, and passed without incident. Yay!

Between my nervousness, and the interruption in my routine, I missed the seat belt. Of course, I should have restarted the routine and picked that up. Normally, I always fasten my seat belt, and if I should forget when I start out, which happens occasionally, I usually get it done within a couple minutes.

Since I'm a golfer, I know the wisdom of the Scots, who say, "Any bloody fool can do it the second time!"