Callahan, FL.
75 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Plentiful sunshine. Near record high temperatures. High 87F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
We left the New Green Acres RV Park about 9:35, hopped on I-95 and took it all the way down to just South of Savannah, GA where we turned off on US 17. As usual 95 was very crowded, but the traffic moved smoothly and we made good time.
US 17 took us to GA 196, (a short-cut) which took us over to US 84. 84 then took us in a Southwesterly direction which brought us to Jesup, GA where we turned South on US 301. 301 then brought us all the way down to Florida and to Hilliard, FL., where we pulled into the Winn-Dixie Grocery Store parking lot, so that Jim could go in and purchase some bread, hamburger buns and paper plates. It didn't take Jim long and soon we were back on 301. In just a few miles, we pilled into Kelly's Countryside RV Park, which is just a few miles North of Callahan..
It was 1:30 when we pulled up to the office, so it took us right at 3 hours and 55 minutes to travel the 199 mile down here and buy those few groceries.
We've stayed at Kelly's many times before, and in fact spent a whole month here one year while we were full-timing. It's a nice friendly CG, well maintained, but it has become very popular with monthly RVers so that now it's almost always full and you need to call ahead to make sure they have a site available.
We're staying here for 2 nights and so tomorrow, we'll travel the final leg of our summer travels. :-( It's about 3 hours from here to the DeBary area so we won't have to start too early in the morning to get there at a reasonable time.
Did you know that in Georgia, the Okefenokee Swamp encompasses over 400,000 acres of canals; moss draped
cypress trees, and lily pad prairies providing sanctuaries for hundreds
of species of birds and wildlife including several endangered species?
Woof!!!
Showing posts with label Full-Time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Full-Time. Show all posts
Monday, October 31, 2016
Saturday, March 28, 2015
A Little Trip To See Good Friends
DeBary, FL.
47 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Sunny. Highs around 68°F. Northwest wind 11 to 17 MPH, gusting to 24 MPH.
I haven't posted because I really haven't had much to post about. Nothing special happening. nothing new with Linda or Jim, just everyday living.
Boring!!!!!! ;-(
Today though, Jim and Linda will be taking Big RED and heading over to Wildwood, FL to see some very good RVing friends that they haven't seen for at least 2 years. Their names are Donna and Monte and they've known them since way back in 2001 when we started full-timing. But it was 9/11/2001 when they really became good friends.
You see, we were at the Prairie Pines Campground, up in Rantoul, when those planes crashed into the twin towers, all those people died and all that other stuff happened. Donna and Monte were there too, and everyone just kind of hung out together, not knowing what was going to happen in the future. We, along with 3 or 4 other full-time couples stayed there for a good part of the summer and waited.
Friends that you make at times like that are really special as you kind of "bond" together. We've lost contact with a few of the other couples, but have always stayed in contact with Donna and Monte, and of course Paul and Louise, who manage the CG up there.
Donna and Monte had to quit RVing quite a few years ago because of health problems, so they bought a double wide home in Wildwood when they "hung up the keys". Since then they have either come to see us or Jim and Linda have gone to see them almost every year that we have been in Florida for the winter.
So, about 10;00 or so, Jim and Linda will head over to Wildwood. The plan is to first go to the Russel Stover store over there, so that Linda can get some sugar-free candy. Then stop someplace for lunch before heading to Donna and Monte's house.
It should be a fun day. Jim and Linda are looking forward to seeing their friends again. :-)
Did you know that Wildwood is located at the juncture of Interstate 75, Florida's Turnpike, State Road 44, and U.S. Highway 301 and is often referred to as "The Crossroads of Florida"?
Woof!!!
47 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Sunny. Highs around 68°F. Northwest wind 11 to 17 MPH, gusting to 24 MPH.
I haven't posted because I really haven't had much to post about. Nothing special happening. nothing new with Linda or Jim, just everyday living.
Boring!!!!!! ;-(
Today though, Jim and Linda will be taking Big RED and heading over to Wildwood, FL to see some very good RVing friends that they haven't seen for at least 2 years. Their names are Donna and Monte and they've known them since way back in 2001 when we started full-timing. But it was 9/11/2001 when they really became good friends.
You see, we were at the Prairie Pines Campground, up in Rantoul, when those planes crashed into the twin towers, all those people died and all that other stuff happened. Donna and Monte were there too, and everyone just kind of hung out together, not knowing what was going to happen in the future. We, along with 3 or 4 other full-time couples stayed there for a good part of the summer and waited.
Friends that you make at times like that are really special as you kind of "bond" together. We've lost contact with a few of the other couples, but have always stayed in contact with Donna and Monte, and of course Paul and Louise, who manage the CG up there.
Donna and Monte had to quit RVing quite a few years ago because of health problems, so they bought a double wide home in Wildwood when they "hung up the keys". Since then they have either come to see us or Jim and Linda have gone to see them almost every year that we have been in Florida for the winter.
So, about 10;00 or so, Jim and Linda will head over to Wildwood. The plan is to first go to the Russel Stover store over there, so that Linda can get some sugar-free candy. Then stop someplace for lunch before heading to Donna and Monte's house.
It should be a fun day. Jim and Linda are looking forward to seeing their friends again. :-)
Did you know that Wildwood is located at the juncture of Interstate 75, Florida's Turnpike, State Road 44, and U.S. Highway 301 and is often referred to as "The Crossroads of Florida"?
Woof!!!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Can You Be Flexible?
DeBary, FL.
63 deg. cloudy, Wind NW 6 MPH Gusts 26
Forecast = Mostly cloudy with showers likely. Highs around 68°F. West wind 8 to 15 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
Can you be flexible?
NO! NO!! Not your body!!!
Can you be flexible enough to Full-time or even part-time for 5 or 6 months of the year? If you've been RVing for any length of time, I'm sure that you've had to be, or learn to be flexible with your plans.
Many years ago, when we first started Full-timing, we learned that you'd better allow for a mishap or two, anytime you're traveling or even staying in one place for awhile. Things just happen and there's nothing you can do about it.
If you can't adapt to these mishaps or delays and change your pans, you probably better not plan on RVing too much. Sometimes you can make up the time you lost for repairs or other unforeseen circumstances, but sometimes you just have to make a major plan change.
One of the first years that we were Full-timing, we had an accident in a parking lot South of Orlando. Jim made a hard right turn, the back of the MH swung out and hit a new Jeep Liberty and tore up the Jeeps fender and the plastic bumper on the back of the MH. It was the fist thing like that that had happened, Jim was really upset with himself, and to be honest, I thought our Full-timing days were over!!!
That little deal cost us 2 or 3 weeks of travel and a lot of plans had to be changed. We had to be flexible!
Then, there was time time that we were on our way to Oregon, via the northern route, (US 2). We were in the middle of Montana, (about 20 or 30 miles East of Havre in the middle of nowhere), when the diesel engine just up and quit!!!!
Jim got it going again and we limped into Havre where a CG made space for us and a great mechanic worked on the MH for almost 2 days, but still didn't find the problem. To his credit, he knew he didn't find the problem and he only charged us for a few other minor items he found and repaired.
To make a long story short, we went to many different mechanics, (even a authorized repair shop), but no one could find the problem. Jim finally determined that if he didn't run anything electrical except the engine, the engine would keep running. We visited with Jeff and Heather in Oregon, but then instead of going down the coast and to a bunch of National Parks, we headed back to Florida where a very good mechanic, Lester, found the problem in about 30 minutes and repaired it for about $150.00!!!
A very big change of plans! We had to be flexible!!!!
As most of you know, back in August 2013, while we were in Illinois, Linda was diagnosed with cancer. We scrapped all our plans, headed to Florida and spent the next 11 months down here where Linda had surgery, chemo and radiation treatments. It also marked the end of our 12 1/2 years of Full-timing.
A major change of plans!! We had to be flexible!!!!!
This summer, we were planning on going back out to Oregon again. But, Linda's eye problem required us to change our plans, yet again. It's OK though, we'll head up to Illinois to our favorite Campground and enjoy the summer there. Through the years, we've had a lot of bumps in the road, with that really big bump back in 2013. By comparison, this is just a little pebble in the road.
Another change of plans!! But it's OK, we're flexible!!!!!
Are You????
Did you know that there are 2,734,102 miles of paved public roads in the United Sates, with an additional 1,324,245 miles of unpaved public roads?
Woof!!!
63 deg. cloudy, Wind NW 6 MPH Gusts 26
Forecast = Mostly cloudy with showers likely. Highs around 68°F. West wind 8 to 15 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
Can you be flexible?
NO! NO!! Not your body!!!
Can you be flexible enough to Full-time or even part-time for 5 or 6 months of the year? If you've been RVing for any length of time, I'm sure that you've had to be, or learn to be flexible with your plans.
Many years ago, when we first started Full-timing, we learned that you'd better allow for a mishap or two, anytime you're traveling or even staying in one place for awhile. Things just happen and there's nothing you can do about it.
If you can't adapt to these mishaps or delays and change your pans, you probably better not plan on RVing too much. Sometimes you can make up the time you lost for repairs or other unforeseen circumstances, but sometimes you just have to make a major plan change.
One of the first years that we were Full-timing, we had an accident in a parking lot South of Orlando. Jim made a hard right turn, the back of the MH swung out and hit a new Jeep Liberty and tore up the Jeeps fender and the plastic bumper on the back of the MH. It was the fist thing like that that had happened, Jim was really upset with himself, and to be honest, I thought our Full-timing days were over!!!
That little deal cost us 2 or 3 weeks of travel and a lot of plans had to be changed. We had to be flexible!
Then, there was time time that we were on our way to Oregon, via the northern route, (US 2). We were in the middle of Montana, (about 20 or 30 miles East of Havre in the middle of nowhere), when the diesel engine just up and quit!!!!
Jim got it going again and we limped into Havre where a CG made space for us and a great mechanic worked on the MH for almost 2 days, but still didn't find the problem. To his credit, he knew he didn't find the problem and he only charged us for a few other minor items he found and repaired.
To make a long story short, we went to many different mechanics, (even a authorized repair shop), but no one could find the problem. Jim finally determined that if he didn't run anything electrical except the engine, the engine would keep running. We visited with Jeff and Heather in Oregon, but then instead of going down the coast and to a bunch of National Parks, we headed back to Florida where a very good mechanic, Lester, found the problem in about 30 minutes and repaired it for about $150.00!!!
A very big change of plans! We had to be flexible!!!!
As most of you know, back in August 2013, while we were in Illinois, Linda was diagnosed with cancer. We scrapped all our plans, headed to Florida and spent the next 11 months down here where Linda had surgery, chemo and radiation treatments. It also marked the end of our 12 1/2 years of Full-timing.
A major change of plans!! We had to be flexible!!!!!
This summer, we were planning on going back out to Oregon again. But, Linda's eye problem required us to change our plans, yet again. It's OK though, we'll head up to Illinois to our favorite Campground and enjoy the summer there. Through the years, we've had a lot of bumps in the road, with that really big bump back in 2013. By comparison, this is just a little pebble in the road.
Another change of plans!! But it's OK, we're flexible!!!!!
Are You????
Did you know that there are 2,734,102 miles of paved public roads in the United Sates, with an additional 1,324,245 miles of unpaved public roads?
Woof!!!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
To Move Or Not To Move
Rantoul, IL.
72 deg. cloudy, SW wind @ 6 mph.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Highs around 84°F. Heat index around 91°F. Southwest wind to 7 MPH. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Jim and Linda got an e-mail from Alternative Resources Friday and I suppose that any of you that use them for your mail forwarding service got one too. Alternative Resource in South Dakota has been our "official" residence and mail forwarding service ever since we went full-timing way back in 2001. In fact they started receiving and forwarding our mail even before that!!
Alternative Resources has been sold and the name changed to Dakota Post.The new owners are making some pretty drastic changes and most of the changes are good, but one of the changes involves them moving to a larger facility and thus, changing the address. This would mean that Jim and Linda's address at all banks, credit cards, checks, insurance companies, plus driver's license, that they have would have to be notified and changed. Plus, there's family and friends to notify also.
Not a small task!!!!
However, , , , , , in the past, Jim and Linda have discussed moving their "official" address to their double- wide address, down in Florida, but had pretty much decided that for now, they'd just keep using South Dakota.
You can see what's coming here, can't you?
Yep, you guessed it. They haven't made up their minds for sure, but it doesn't seem to make much sense to change everything to a new address in SD and then in a few years or so, change it again to Florida!!!
They'll need to do some more research on this, but there's a few good Mail Forwarding services in Florida that they can use when we're traveling, and they do have the address of the double-wide to use.
Hmmm!!!! I wonder how many other RVers will be leaving SD because of this change?
Did you know that according to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the population of 282,556,000, the people that moved was 40,093,000? That would make the percentage rate to be 14.19 percent annually.
Woof!!!
72 deg. cloudy, SW wind @ 6 mph.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Highs around 84°F. Heat index around 91°F. Southwest wind to 7 MPH. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Jim and Linda got an e-mail from Alternative Resources Friday and I suppose that any of you that use them for your mail forwarding service got one too. Alternative Resource in South Dakota has been our "official" residence and mail forwarding service ever since we went full-timing way back in 2001. In fact they started receiving and forwarding our mail even before that!!
Alternative Resources has been sold and the name changed to Dakota Post.The new owners are making some pretty drastic changes and most of the changes are good, but one of the changes involves them moving to a larger facility and thus, changing the address. This would mean that Jim and Linda's address at all banks, credit cards, checks, insurance companies, plus driver's license, that they have would have to be notified and changed. Plus, there's family and friends to notify also.
Not a small task!!!!
However, , , , , , in the past, Jim and Linda have discussed moving their "official" address to their double- wide address, down in Florida, but had pretty much decided that for now, they'd just keep using South Dakota.
You can see what's coming here, can't you?
Yep, you guessed it. They haven't made up their minds for sure, but it doesn't seem to make much sense to change everything to a new address in SD and then in a few years or so, change it again to Florida!!!
They'll need to do some more research on this, but there's a few good Mail Forwarding services in Florida that they can use when we're traveling, and they do have the address of the double-wide to use.
Hmmm!!!! I wonder how many other RVers will be leaving SD because of this change?
Did you know that according to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the population of 282,556,000, the people that moved was 40,093,000? That would make the percentage rate to be 14.19 percent annually.
Woof!!!
Friday, August 15, 2014
More RVing Friends Coming To Visit and Linda's New Hat
Rantoul, IL.
52 deg, clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy. Highs around 79°F. East southeast wind to 5 MPH.
At an RV RV Dreams Rally, quite a few years ago, Jim and Linda met a couple named Hank and Selene. Well, after sending some messages back and forth, and since they are traveling through this area, they've decided to stop here at Prairie Pines for awhile. :-) Mike and Terri also know them, so it should be a fun time. ;-)
Oh, speaking of Mike and Terri, I forgot to mention this yesterday. Most of you know that Linda had chemo treatments for her cancer. Well, you probably also know that chemo makes all of your hair fall out. Linda has been wearing some knit hats that she got from the American Cancer Society and they are very nice, but she only has a few of them that she likes. Well, the other night when Mike and Terri went to the Apple Dumplin' Restaurant with Jim and Linda, Terri gave Linda a really nice knit hat that she made!
That was really nice of Terri. Linda wore the hat most of yesterday and really likes it. Thank You Terri!!!! :-)
Hank and Selene should be arriving sometime this afternoon. The family with the 5th wheel that was in the site right next to us left yesterday and I'm thinking that Louise may put them in that site when they get here.
Did you know that one of the earliest known examples of true knitting was cotton socks with stranded knit color patterns found in Egypt from the end of the first millennium AD?
Woof!!!
52 deg, clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy. Highs around 79°F. East southeast wind to 5 MPH.
At an RV RV Dreams Rally, quite a few years ago, Jim and Linda met a couple named Hank and Selene. Well, after sending some messages back and forth, and since they are traveling through this area, they've decided to stop here at Prairie Pines for awhile. :-) Mike and Terri also know them, so it should be a fun time. ;-)
Oh, speaking of Mike and Terri, I forgot to mention this yesterday. Most of you know that Linda had chemo treatments for her cancer. Well, you probably also know that chemo makes all of your hair fall out. Linda has been wearing some knit hats that she got from the American Cancer Society and they are very nice, but she only has a few of them that she likes. Well, the other night when Mike and Terri went to the Apple Dumplin' Restaurant with Jim and Linda, Terri gave Linda a really nice knit hat that she made!
That was really nice of Terri. Linda wore the hat most of yesterday and really likes it. Thank You Terri!!!! :-)
Hank and Selene should be arriving sometime this afternoon. The family with the 5th wheel that was in the site right next to us left yesterday and I'm thinking that Louise may put them in that site when they get here.
Did you know that one of the earliest known examples of true knitting was cotton socks with stranded knit color patterns found in Egypt from the end of the first millennium AD?
Woof!!!
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Back in Rantoul IL
74 deg. partly cloudy, NE wind @ 13 mph.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Highs around 77°F. North wind 11 to 16 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 55%.
Linda woke up about an hour earlier than planned so by 8:55 we were pulling out of the Hilltop CG near Goreville. Just outside of the park, we turned onto the entrance ramp for I-57 North. 57 was a pretty good road, (except for the bridge approaches), and we made good time, even though we did have a few fairly short construction zones.
When we got up to Tuscola, we pulled into a truck stop and Jim bought Big RED a nice big drink of #2 diesel. He was pretty thirsty because the last drink that he had was way back in Clarksville, TN.
Once Big RED had his drink we continued on I-57 up here to Rantoul and the Prairie Pines Campground. When we pulled up in front of the office, it was 12:45, so we had been on the road for about 3 hours and 50 minutes and traveled 221 miles.
Louise was waiting for us and led us right to site #23. Jim has always said that he thought 23 was his favorite site and this year, Louise was able to save it for us. :-)
Here's a few photos of our site.
Viewed from the street
View from patio looking towards the street. That's the bath house/laundry across the street on the right.
Our back yard.
View from back yard. Those big trees on the awning side of Nora are on the South side, so they provide very good shade during the hottest part of the day.
When we drove into the park, I saw a 5th wheel trailer and truck that looked very familiar. And, it should have, because it belongs to Mike and Terri Young, very good RVing friends that Jim and Linda have known for quite a few years. We haven't been able to meet up with them much lately, but this summer, they've been spending some time in IL. and decided to stay here at Prairie Pines for awhile.
After Jim got Nora unhooked from Big RED and set up, they came by to bring Linda a card, wish her a Happy Birthday and to visit for awhile. I find it amazing that even though RVers may not see each other for a long time, they seem to just pick up the conversation right where they left off the last time they visited. ;-)
I think RVers, especially full-time RVers, are a little different breed. ;-)
Tentative plans have already been made with Mike and Terri to go out to eat today. And, I'm sure there will be a lot more visiting and catching up on what's happened lately while they're here.
A little later, Paul and Louise also stopped by to bring Linda a card, wish her a Happy Birthday. see Nora and to visit, but they couldn't stay to visit because a RV came into the park and they had to go to register it and lead it into a site. :-(
I'm sure Jim and Linda will be visiting with them soon though.
Just one last thing! Linda wants to thank everyone who called, e-mailed, left a blog comment or came over to wish her a Happy Birthday!!!! It really did mean a lot to her to hear from all of you.
Thank you!!!!
Did you know that the world's first Skyscraper was built in Chicago, in 1885?
Woof!!!
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
It's Difficult
DeBary, Fl.
74 deg. clear, humidity 86%, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Highs around 91°F. Heat index around 98°F. South southwest wind to 7 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 50%.
It's difficult trying to decide what to take with you on a 4 month trip, especially since Jim and Linda's mindset is still in the full-timing mode.
Let me try to explain. You see, for the past 12+ years, anytime that we've been traveling in an RV, Jim and Linda had all of their possessions along with them. Now, we're going to be in a much smaller RV, they won't need or have room to take all of their "stuff" with them, but just what do you need for 4 months and what can you do without?????
Are you going to need that casserole dish that was used for so many pot-luck dinners? Are you going to need all those cooking utensils, or all the items that you've used for grilling and cooking outside? What tools will you need, which lawn chairs, which clothes?????
We've been full-timing for so long, its hard not to try to take everything you own with you. After so many years of living in an RV, Jim and Linda had figured out just what was needed and what wasn't, but this is a whole new "game"!!!
Linda says that they have to try to get back into the "vacation mode" that they used many years ago. :-)
Anyway, trying to figure that out is what has been going on around here the last few days. Yesterday, they took a whole bunch of "stuff" over to the trailer and got it all put away. Today, they'll probably be packing more items up to go over there, but they're getting down to the things that they need for everyday living, so most of that will have to be taken to the trailer at the last minute.
As of right now, the plan is still to leave here next Monday morning.although I suppose we could leave on Sunday if everything falls into place.
Linda has been doing a little better but.she's still fighting those dizzy spells which will probably stay with her for awhile yet. That, along with the extreme fatigue requires her to sit and rest a lot, but she's been really trying hard to do as much as she can to get ready to travel.
Oh, Big RED was telling me that they had a little excitement when they arrived at the trailer yesterday morning!!!! It seems that when they got there, there was no electric power to the trailer!!! Jim checked the circuit breakers and they were OK. Then, he checked the electric cords and found out that there was no power coming out of the one that plugs into the trailer. Upon inspection, it was determined that something had happened inside of the connector and that one of the contacts was burned.
Jim had always thought that there was something that was not quite right with that connector, but the dealer said that they had checked it and everything was OK.
Well, I guess it wasn't!!!! :-(
Anyway, because by that time, the temperature was already nearing 90 degrees and the refrigerator, (which already has quite a bit of food in it), had already been running off of propane and battery, for who knows how long, Jim decided rather than to mess around with trying to get LaMesa to warranty it, he just went and purchased a new cord.
When he gets time, he'll get a new connector for the old cord and then, he'll have an extra one in case something happens to the new one.
So, that's what has been happening around here. Tomorrow, Linda goes in to get that "port" removed and then it'll just be a matter of tying up all the loose ends.
I sure am getting "hitch itch"!!!! :-)
Did you know that more than ten people a year are killed by vending machines?
Woof!!!!
74 deg. clear, humidity 86%, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Highs around 91°F. Heat index around 98°F. South southwest wind to 7 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 50%.
It's difficult trying to decide what to take with you on a 4 month trip, especially since Jim and Linda's mindset is still in the full-timing mode.
Let me try to explain. You see, for the past 12+ years, anytime that we've been traveling in an RV, Jim and Linda had all of their possessions along with them. Now, we're going to be in a much smaller RV, they won't need or have room to take all of their "stuff" with them, but just what do you need for 4 months and what can you do without?????
Are you going to need that casserole dish that was used for so many pot-luck dinners? Are you going to need all those cooking utensils, or all the items that you've used for grilling and cooking outside? What tools will you need, which lawn chairs, which clothes?????
We've been full-timing for so long, its hard not to try to take everything you own with you. After so many years of living in an RV, Jim and Linda had figured out just what was needed and what wasn't, but this is a whole new "game"!!!
Linda says that they have to try to get back into the "vacation mode" that they used many years ago. :-)
Anyway, trying to figure that out is what has been going on around here the last few days. Yesterday, they took a whole bunch of "stuff" over to the trailer and got it all put away. Today, they'll probably be packing more items up to go over there, but they're getting down to the things that they need for everyday living, so most of that will have to be taken to the trailer at the last minute.
As of right now, the plan is still to leave here next Monday morning.although I suppose we could leave on Sunday if everything falls into place.
Linda has been doing a little better but.she's still fighting those dizzy spells which will probably stay with her for awhile yet. That, along with the extreme fatigue requires her to sit and rest a lot, but she's been really trying hard to do as much as she can to get ready to travel.
Oh, Big RED was telling me that they had a little excitement when they arrived at the trailer yesterday morning!!!! It seems that when they got there, there was no electric power to the trailer!!! Jim checked the circuit breakers and they were OK. Then, he checked the electric cords and found out that there was no power coming out of the one that plugs into the trailer. Upon inspection, it was determined that something had happened inside of the connector and that one of the contacts was burned.
Jim had always thought that there was something that was not quite right with that connector, but the dealer said that they had checked it and everything was OK.
Well, I guess it wasn't!!!! :-(
Anyway, because by that time, the temperature was already nearing 90 degrees and the refrigerator, (which already has quite a bit of food in it), had already been running off of propane and battery, for who knows how long, Jim decided rather than to mess around with trying to get LaMesa to warranty it, he just went and purchased a new cord.
When he gets time, he'll get a new connector for the old cord and then, he'll have an extra one in case something happens to the new one.
So, that's what has been happening around here. Tomorrow, Linda goes in to get that "port" removed and then it'll just be a matter of tying up all the loose ends.
I sure am getting "hitch itch"!!!! :-)
Did you know that more than ten people a year are killed by vending machines?
Woof!!!!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Full-Timing RVs and Trucks
DeBary, FL
.
.
58 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Sun and clouds mixed. High 83F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Being that nothing important is happening, I thought I'd create a collage of the RVs and trucks that we've had since we went full-timing back in 2001.
In the top left corner there's Mariah. (You can click on the photo to enlarge it). She was the 1998 35' Winnebago Chieftain gas engine motor home that Jim and Linda had when we started full-timing June 1, 2001. They had purchased her in 1999 and she served us well, taking us all across the lower 48 states many times and even up to Alaska and back in 2002.
The center photo on the left side is TTT a 1992 Nissan pickup truck. (Mariah named him TTT for Tiny Tin Truck). He also was with us right from the start and followed along behind Mariah for many, many miles. He really took a beating from all the gravel on our trip to Alaska and in 2004 developed some major mechanical problems, so in April of 2004, Jim traded him off for CLT, (Lower left in the photo), a 1996 Nissan pickup, (Named Cute Little Truck, also by Mariah). CLT's truck bed was the same as TTT's so it was possible to transfer the bed cap from one truck to the other without any modifications.
In 2005, Mariah developed some major structural problems so Jim and Linda traded her for Myrddin, (a 1992 40' Beaver Marquis diesel pusher). (Top right in above photo)
Myrddin was beautiful inside with a handcrafted cherry wood interior and was probably the motor home with the interior that Jim and Linda liked the best. Myrddin had his problems though, and on the first trip out West in 2005 we had major problems with the engine stopping all of a sudden and doing that, during the whole trip out west and back. Jim and Linda took him to many RV repair shops along the way, but no one could figure out what was wrong.
We finally made it back down to Florida where a mechanic named Lester, at a shop in Lakeland Florida figured it out. Come to find out, it was an intermittent short in a 12 volt electric motor that powered the vacuum pump for the dash heater.
The problem was fixed, but Jim never had faith in Myrddin after that.
In 2011 on our way to the RV Dreams Rally in Sevierville, TN, Myrddin again developed an engine problem. This time it was a misfire condition. We made it to the Rally and then after the rally, Jim tried to find someone who could figure out what was wrong. Every place he called, he was told that they no longer had the diagnostic equipment to check his engine out. Jim finally found a CAT dealer in Bristol TN who had the equipment and repaired the problem, which ended up being a loose wire on cylinders 3 & 4 injectors.
At this same time, there was also a problem with Myrddin's furnace. When they tried to order the needed parts, they found out that they were almost non existent. It was at this time that Jim and Linda started to look for a newer RV.
In May of 2011, Jim and Linda found Emrys, a 45' 2000 Newmar, London Aire diesel pusher motor home at a dealer in central Illinois. (Bottom center in the above photo).
Linda named him Emrys, and he was also very nice inside, but didn't have the fit and finish of the woodwork that Myrddin had. When Jim and Linda purchased him, there were some problems that the dealer said that they would take care of. Well, come to find out, they just patched him together to get him out of the door, and once we were on the road, things started to go wrong. : ( (This dealer has since, gone out of business).
Again, Lester, (the mechanic and his crew down in Florida), came to the rescue and soon most of the problems were repaired and we were on our way. : )
Emrys was huge at 45', great to drive down the Interstates, (steady as a rock), and great to be living in with his 2 slideouts, but neither Jim or Linda had any idea just how much more those extra 5' of length would restrict where we could camp or go. He was no fun at all on hilly, twisty/turny roads, (like U.S. 101 up along the Oregon coast), and we found that many of the campgrounds along the non-Interstate roads could not accommodate such a large RV.
Jim and Linda adjusted our travels though, and soon we were traveling on almost all Interstates and staying in only the larger parks.
I still don't know just what happened to make Jim decide that he thought it was time to stop full-timing and to buy a house again, but during the winter of 2012/2013, he told Linda that he thought it was time to stop. Now, before they started full-timing, they made an agreement that if one of them ever decided that it was time to stop full-timing, they would tell the other, discuss the reasons, and then stop if that person still felt the same after the discussion.
Well, as most of you know, they did buy a double wide manufactured home down in DeBary Florida. It's in a gated community and there is absolutely no place to park a 45' motor home, much less even get it through the entrance. They do however, have a storage lot within the community where a smaller RV could be stored.
So, the search was on for a smaller RV.
It didn't take long before Jim and Linda found Bobbie T., a 27' Class B motorhome, (lower right in the photo), at a nearby RV dealer that would take Emrys in on trade.
During the summer of 2013, we took Bobbie T, with CLT hooked behind, and traveled from FL to IL by way of Virginia Beach, VA and Apex, NC. At Linda's regular Doctor's appointment in August, she was diagnosed with cancer.
At that time, we came down here to Florida and moved into the Double-wide manufactured home so that Linda could have surgery and treatments, thus, officially ending our full-timing lifestyle in August of 2013.
Since we've been here in Florida, Jim and Linda have traded CLT for a 3/4 ton Dodge pickup, and sometime before fall, will be either selling Bobbie T, or trading her in on a trailer of some kind. The reason for this is that Bobbie T. is not doing well over in the storage lot and Jim is worried about what kind of condition her engine and other chassis parts will be in after such a long period of non-use.
So, that's the vehicles that we've had while Full-timing. We've had a great time traveling all over the lower 48 and up into Alaska and would have liked to full-time longer. But, as we all know, things don't always work out the way we wanted them to.
Did you know that American Eddie Eagan is the only person to have won gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Games? He was a boxing champion in the 1920 Antwerp Games, and also won gold at the 1932 Lake Placid Games in the team bobsled event.
Woof!!!
Linda named him Emrys, and he was also very nice inside, but didn't have the fit and finish of the woodwork that Myrddin had. When Jim and Linda purchased him, there were some problems that the dealer said that they would take care of. Well, come to find out, they just patched him together to get him out of the door, and once we were on the road, things started to go wrong. : ( (This dealer has since, gone out of business).
Again, Lester, (the mechanic and his crew down in Florida), came to the rescue and soon most of the problems were repaired and we were on our way. : )
Emrys was huge at 45', great to drive down the Interstates, (steady as a rock), and great to be living in with his 2 slideouts, but neither Jim or Linda had any idea just how much more those extra 5' of length would restrict where we could camp or go. He was no fun at all on hilly, twisty/turny roads, (like U.S. 101 up along the Oregon coast), and we found that many of the campgrounds along the non-Interstate roads could not accommodate such a large RV.
Jim and Linda adjusted our travels though, and soon we were traveling on almost all Interstates and staying in only the larger parks.
I still don't know just what happened to make Jim decide that he thought it was time to stop full-timing and to buy a house again, but during the winter of 2012/2013, he told Linda that he thought it was time to stop. Now, before they started full-timing, they made an agreement that if one of them ever decided that it was time to stop full-timing, they would tell the other, discuss the reasons, and then stop if that person still felt the same after the discussion.
Well, as most of you know, they did buy a double wide manufactured home down in DeBary Florida. It's in a gated community and there is absolutely no place to park a 45' motor home, much less even get it through the entrance. They do however, have a storage lot within the community where a smaller RV could be stored.
So, the search was on for a smaller RV.
It didn't take long before Jim and Linda found Bobbie T., a 27' Class B motorhome, (lower right in the photo), at a nearby RV dealer that would take Emrys in on trade.
During the summer of 2013, we took Bobbie T, with CLT hooked behind, and traveled from FL to IL by way of Virginia Beach, VA and Apex, NC. At Linda's regular Doctor's appointment in August, she was diagnosed with cancer.
At that time, we came down here to Florida and moved into the Double-wide manufactured home so that Linda could have surgery and treatments, thus, officially ending our full-timing lifestyle in August of 2013.
Since we've been here in Florida, Jim and Linda have traded CLT for a 3/4 ton Dodge pickup, and sometime before fall, will be either selling Bobbie T, or trading her in on a trailer of some kind. The reason for this is that Bobbie T. is not doing well over in the storage lot and Jim is worried about what kind of condition her engine and other chassis parts will be in after such a long period of non-use.
So, that's the vehicles that we've had while Full-timing. We've had a great time traveling all over the lower 48 and up into Alaska and would have liked to full-time longer. But, as we all know, things don't always work out the way we wanted them to.
Did you know that American Eddie Eagan is the only person to have won gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Games? He was a boxing champion in the 1920 Antwerp Games, and also won gold at the 1932 Lake Placid Games in the team bobsled event.
Woof!!!
Monday, January 20, 2014
A Great Visit With Good Friends
DeBary, FL.
43 deg. light fog, no wind.
Forecast = Foggy early, becoming sunny this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Yesterday morning, Linda and Jim did that last load of laundry and then kicked back and relaxed for awhile. About 1:30 or so, Roland and Louise arrived and after h and h, (hugs and handshakes), they talked and talked the afternoon away. :-)
Roland and Louise were one of our first RVing friends. We met them way back in 2002 in a little CG in the panhandle of Florida. Jim and Roland hit it off right away and soon after, Linda and Louise became very good friends too. They weren't full-timers at that time, but soon after hearing about Jim and Linda's adventures, hit the road soon afterwards.
And, as they say, "The rest is history"!!! ;-)
After a nice afternoon of visiting, Jim and Roland headed over to Gentile's and picked up a couple small pizzas. After an enjoyable meal and more conversation they decided that it was time for them to head back home to their double-wide home in Frostproof.
So, after more h and h, they headed for home. :-(
It sure was great to see them again. Both Jim and Linda always enjoy visiting with them. Hopefully we'll get to see them again sometime soon.
Did you know that the average person only has only 4 or 5 "close friends"?
Woof!!!
43 deg. light fog, no wind.
Forecast = Foggy early, becoming sunny this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Yesterday morning, Linda and Jim did that last load of laundry and then kicked back and relaxed for awhile. About 1:30 or so, Roland and Louise arrived and after h and h, (hugs and handshakes), they talked and talked the afternoon away. :-)
Roland and Louise were one of our first RVing friends. We met them way back in 2002 in a little CG in the panhandle of Florida. Jim and Roland hit it off right away and soon after, Linda and Louise became very good friends too. They weren't full-timers at that time, but soon after hearing about Jim and Linda's adventures, hit the road soon afterwards.
And, as they say, "The rest is history"!!! ;-)
After a nice afternoon of visiting, Jim and Roland headed over to Gentile's and picked up a couple small pizzas. After an enjoyable meal and more conversation they decided that it was time for them to head back home to their double-wide home in Frostproof.
So, after more h and h, they headed for home. :-(
It sure was great to see them again. Both Jim and Linda always enjoy visiting with them. Hopefully we'll get to see them again sometime soon.
Did you know that the average person only has only 4 or 5 "close friends"?
Woof!!!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Chiefland, FL To DeBary, FL and We're Living In The House
DeBary, FL.
75 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain. High of 95F. Winds from the SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
After dumping and flushing the black and grey water tanks a much as possible, we pulled out of the Chiefland RV Park about 9:40 yesterday morning. Once back on US 19, we followed it South for a few blocks and then turned off on Alt US 27 which took us over towards Ocala. A little Williston, we turned off on FL 326 which took us around the North side of Ocala and to Rt. 40. 40 then brought us East to Barberville where we turned South on US 17/92, which brought us down to DeBary and the Highland Country Estates where the house is located.
It was 12:30 when we pulled up in front of the house so it took us 2 hours and 50 minutes to travel 120 miles and stop near Ocala and get Bobbie T a drink of 87 octane.
Yes, Jim and Linda did decide to head straight to the house instead of going to Laura and Lindsey's. There really wasn't any reason not to even though Bobbie T. was parked on the street in front of the house for awhile. The streets are wide enough for cars or even trucks to get past.
Jim and Linda had called Laura and Lindsey and told them of our change in plans, so a little after we arrived at the house, they came and everyone went to work, moving food and "stuff" out of Bobbie T. and into the house.
Jim and Lindsey were outside in Bobbie T.. Jim packed things into tote boxes and Lindsey would carry them into the house. Meanwhile, Linda and Laura were busy trying to get everything put away inside as Lindsey brought things in.
Jim and Lindsey took breaks every once in awhile as the temperature was up in the mid 90's, but by about 3:00, most everything was inside the house and Jim was driving Bobbie T over to the storage lot and backing her into site #2.
Lindsey followed Jim to the lot and helped Jim get backed in, and soon they were back here at the house, enjoying a cold drink. ;-)
Laura invited Jim and Linda over to their house for a spaghetti dinner, so about 5:30, Jim and Linda took CLT and headed over there, stopping at Winn Dixie to pick up some bread to bring back here and some Italian Bread and a Banana Cream Pie to take to Laura and Lindsey's to have with the meal.
About 8:00 CLT brought Jim and Linda back here to the house where they relaxed until about 10:00, and then went to bed, very tired.
Again, Laura and Lindsey came through when Linda and Jim needed help. Thank you so much, all your help will be remembered. ;-)
So, , , , , , that officially ends our time as Full-timers. It's been 12 years and 3 months since we pulled out of the driveway up in Illinois and it's been a blast!!!! Oh, there's been times when things haven't been too good, but the good times far outweigh the bad times. After things settle down around here a little, I'll try to do a recap of those 12+ years on the road in a few posts.
In the next few days, Jim and Linda will try to get things organized here in the house. They also need to buy a TV and a few other items, so they'll be busy, busy, busy. Then, on Thursday, Linda will have her first doctor's appointment that will determine what medical procedures need to be done.
Keep your fingers crossed!!!!
Would you believe that it's been 12 years and 3 months since Jim, Linda or I have slept in a house?
Woof!!!
75 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain. High of 95F. Winds from the SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
After dumping and flushing the black and grey water tanks a much as possible, we pulled out of the Chiefland RV Park about 9:40 yesterday morning. Once back on US 19, we followed it South for a few blocks and then turned off on Alt US 27 which took us over towards Ocala. A little Williston, we turned off on FL 326 which took us around the North side of Ocala and to Rt. 40. 40 then brought us East to Barberville where we turned South on US 17/92, which brought us down to DeBary and the Highland Country Estates where the house is located.
It was 12:30 when we pulled up in front of the house so it took us 2 hours and 50 minutes to travel 120 miles and stop near Ocala and get Bobbie T a drink of 87 octane.
Yes, Jim and Linda did decide to head straight to the house instead of going to Laura and Lindsey's. There really wasn't any reason not to even though Bobbie T. was parked on the street in front of the house for awhile. The streets are wide enough for cars or even trucks to get past.
Jim and Linda had called Laura and Lindsey and told them of our change in plans, so a little after we arrived at the house, they came and everyone went to work, moving food and "stuff" out of Bobbie T. and into the house.
Jim and Lindsey were outside in Bobbie T.. Jim packed things into tote boxes and Lindsey would carry them into the house. Meanwhile, Linda and Laura were busy trying to get everything put away inside as Lindsey brought things in.
Jim and Lindsey took breaks every once in awhile as the temperature was up in the mid 90's, but by about 3:00, most everything was inside the house and Jim was driving Bobbie T over to the storage lot and backing her into site #2.
Lindsey followed Jim to the lot and helped Jim get backed in, and soon they were back here at the house, enjoying a cold drink. ;-)
Laura invited Jim and Linda over to their house for a spaghetti dinner, so about 5:30, Jim and Linda took CLT and headed over there, stopping at Winn Dixie to pick up some bread to bring back here and some Italian Bread and a Banana Cream Pie to take to Laura and Lindsey's to have with the meal.
About 8:00 CLT brought Jim and Linda back here to the house where they relaxed until about 10:00, and then went to bed, very tired.
Again, Laura and Lindsey came through when Linda and Jim needed help. Thank you so much, all your help will be remembered. ;-)
So, , , , , , that officially ends our time as Full-timers. It's been 12 years and 3 months since we pulled out of the driveway up in Illinois and it's been a blast!!!! Oh, there's been times when things haven't been too good, but the good times far outweigh the bad times. After things settle down around here a little, I'll try to do a recap of those 12+ years on the road in a few posts.
In the next few days, Jim and Linda will try to get things organized here in the house. They also need to buy a TV and a few other items, so they'll be busy, busy, busy. Then, on Thursday, Linda will have her first doctor's appointment that will determine what medical procedures need to be done.
Keep your fingers crossed!!!!
Would you believe that it's been 12 years and 3 months since Jim, Linda or I have slept in a house?
Woof!!!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
They Don't Understand
Rantoul, IL
68 deg. rain, NW wind @ 11 mph.
Forecast = High temp. 81 deg. Partly cloudy in the morning, then clear. NW wind @ 10 to 20 mph.
Received a comment on yesterday's post from Rod, wanting to know if we would lose our site here in Rantoul when we head up to Kankakee on Monday?
Well, yesterday morning, Jim went over and told Louise what our plans were and she said that it was not a problem and that our site would be here when we got back, and in fact, she said that if Jim wanted to leave his bicycle locked to the picnic table while we're gone, that would be OK too.
Louise and Paul have been really good to us throughout the years, and that's one of the main reasons we keep coming back here year after year. : )
Oh, I want to share with you, a kind of strange e-mail that Jim and Linda received from their telephone company yesterday. This is what it said.
"Because your safety is our top concern, here are some safety tips to help you prepare in case a hurricane affects Sioux Falls".
Then the e-mail went on to list the things that you should do to prepare for the storms.
Now, the last time I checked, there weren't too many hurricanes going through the Sioux Falls Area. I guess phone companies just don't understand our traveling lifestyle and the fact that we have a phone number that was issued in Florida but have the billing address in Sioux Falls, SD. ; )
My guess is that the e-mail was generated by a computer and sent to everyone who has a phone number with a FL prefix.
Last night, Jim and Linda were talking about going to the grocery store today, so they may do that. If not, I'm sure that they'll start getting Bobbie T and CLT ready to travel. We've been here a month already so there's quite a bit of "stuff" that needs to be packed away. ; )
Actually, it shouldn't take too long to get ready to travel, but after you've been someplace for a while, it seems like its going to be a big job. ; )
Did you know that on this date in 1920 - The U.S. Post Office Department ruled that children may not be sent by parcel post?
Woof!!!
68 deg. rain, NW wind @ 11 mph.
Forecast = High temp. 81 deg. Partly cloudy in the morning, then clear. NW wind @ 10 to 20 mph.
Received a comment on yesterday's post from Rod, wanting to know if we would lose our site here in Rantoul when we head up to Kankakee on Monday?
Well, yesterday morning, Jim went over and told Louise what our plans were and she said that it was not a problem and that our site would be here when we got back, and in fact, she said that if Jim wanted to leave his bicycle locked to the picnic table while we're gone, that would be OK too.
Louise and Paul have been really good to us throughout the years, and that's one of the main reasons we keep coming back here year after year. : )
Oh, I want to share with you, a kind of strange e-mail that Jim and Linda received from their telephone company yesterday. This is what it said.
"Because your safety is our top concern, here are some safety tips to help you prepare in case a hurricane affects Sioux Falls".
Then the e-mail went on to list the things that you should do to prepare for the storms.
Now, the last time I checked, there weren't too many hurricanes going through the Sioux Falls Area. I guess phone companies just don't understand our traveling lifestyle and the fact that we have a phone number that was issued in Florida but have the billing address in Sioux Falls, SD. ; )
My guess is that the e-mail was generated by a computer and sent to everyone who has a phone number with a FL prefix.
Last night, Jim and Linda were talking about going to the grocery store today, so they may do that. If not, I'm sure that they'll start getting Bobbie T and CLT ready to travel. We've been here a month already so there's quite a bit of "stuff" that needs to be packed away. ; )
Actually, it shouldn't take too long to get ready to travel, but after you've been someplace for a while, it seems like its going to be a big job. ; )
Did you know that on this date in 1920 - The U.S. Post Office Department ruled that children may not be sent by parcel post?
Woof!!!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
378,432,000 Seconds and 7,865,906,291 inches
Rantoul, IL.
63 deg. partly cloudy, W. wind @ 10mph.
Forecast = Today: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs around 75°F. South wind 12 to 17 MPH, gusting to 24 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 85%. Precipitation amounts between one quarter and one half of an inch possible.
Tonight: Partly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows around 57°F. West southwest wind to 12 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 65%.
12 years
144 months
624.7 weeks
4,380 days
105,120 hours
6,307,200 minutes
378,432,000 seconds
126,146 RV miles traveled.
218,497,386 yards
655,492,190 feet
7,865,906,291 inches
It sure doesn't seem like 12 years and 126,146 miles, but 12 years ago today, Jim, Linda and I moved out of their house in Peotone, IL and moved into their 35' Winnebago Chieftain Motorhome and I can't believe all the sites we've seen and how many miles we've traveled!!!
I can still remember that first night, out in the driveway of the house. It was exciting, scary, weird, I had a lot of trouble sleeping, and did I mention scary?
Much of the furniture was already gone, and what wasn't, was sitting in the middle of the dining room waiting for someone to come and pick it up or for Jim and Linda to deliver it. The house had been on the market for some time, but had not sold yet, so Jim and Linda rented it out with the understanding that the people had to move if it did sell.
At that time, 2001, there wasn't much information available as to what the costs of full-timing would be, Cell phones and computer air cards were brand new or non-existent and basically unusable in most parts of the country. About the only way to keep in touch with anyone was by Pay Phone or a little device called "Pocket Mail" that you held up to the pay phone receiver to transfer messages over the phone lines. Phone Calling Cards were a big thing because if you had one and dialed in all the numbers on the pay phone, you got a better cost per minute rate.
I could go on and on, but the fact is that in those days, it was much harder to keep in touch with anyone, and you pretty much just "winged it", until you figured this full-timing thing out for yourself.
Did I mention that it was scary?
The first year I don't think many plans were made. We pretty much just went where the road led us. Then, after 9-11 and a health scare for Linda, it was decided that in 2002, we would go to Alaska, while we could.
What a trip!!! It's one I'll never forget!! : )
I don't remember just when it was, but the house finally sold and then Jim and Linda were completely free from any major obligations. What a relief!!!
We had some great times and some not-so-great times. Fun times and sad times. But when you weigh it all out, in the end, it's been a great ride and I'm sure glad that Jim and Linda brought me along. : )
The rest, as they say, is history. As most of you know, Jim and Linda bought a double wide manufactured home down in Florida this past winter. As of now, they have never slept or stayed in the house though, so they're still considering themselves full-timers.
All of that will change when we get back down to Florida in November, because at that time, Jim and Linda will park Bobbie T in the storage lot and we'll all move into the house.
I guess after that, we'll be "Part-Timers". : )
But, we still have about 5 1/2 months that we're going to be full-timing, and who knows where we'll go or what we'll see in that time. I'm looking forward to every second and every inch of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Did you know that the average lead pencil can can be used to draw a line 35 miles long?
Woof!!!
63 deg. partly cloudy, W. wind @ 10mph.
Forecast = Today: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs around 75°F. South wind 12 to 17 MPH, gusting to 24 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 85%. Precipitation amounts between one quarter and one half of an inch possible.
Tonight: Partly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows around 57°F. West southwest wind to 12 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 65%.
12 years
144 months
624.7 weeks
4,380 days
105,120 hours
6,307,200 minutes
378,432,000 seconds
126,146 RV miles traveled.
218,497,386 yards
655,492,190 feet
7,865,906,291 inches
It sure doesn't seem like 12 years and 126,146 miles, but 12 years ago today, Jim, Linda and I moved out of their house in Peotone, IL and moved into their 35' Winnebago Chieftain Motorhome and I can't believe all the sites we've seen and how many miles we've traveled!!!
I can still remember that first night, out in the driveway of the house. It was exciting, scary, weird, I had a lot of trouble sleeping, and did I mention scary?
Much of the furniture was already gone, and what wasn't, was sitting in the middle of the dining room waiting for someone to come and pick it up or for Jim and Linda to deliver it. The house had been on the market for some time, but had not sold yet, so Jim and Linda rented it out with the understanding that the people had to move if it did sell.
At that time, 2001, there wasn't much information available as to what the costs of full-timing would be, Cell phones and computer air cards were brand new or non-existent and basically unusable in most parts of the country. About the only way to keep in touch with anyone was by Pay Phone or a little device called "Pocket Mail" that you held up to the pay phone receiver to transfer messages over the phone lines. Phone Calling Cards were a big thing because if you had one and dialed in all the numbers on the pay phone, you got a better cost per minute rate.
I could go on and on, but the fact is that in those days, it was much harder to keep in touch with anyone, and you pretty much just "winged it", until you figured this full-timing thing out for yourself.
Did I mention that it was scary?
The first year I don't think many plans were made. We pretty much just went where the road led us. Then, after 9-11 and a health scare for Linda, it was decided that in 2002, we would go to Alaska, while we could.
What a trip!!! It's one I'll never forget!! : )
I don't remember just when it was, but the house finally sold and then Jim and Linda were completely free from any major obligations. What a relief!!!
We had some great times and some not-so-great times. Fun times and sad times. But when you weigh it all out, in the end, it's been a great ride and I'm sure glad that Jim and Linda brought me along. : )
The rest, as they say, is history. As most of you know, Jim and Linda bought a double wide manufactured home down in Florida this past winter. As of now, they have never slept or stayed in the house though, so they're still considering themselves full-timers.
All of that will change when we get back down to Florida in November, because at that time, Jim and Linda will park Bobbie T in the storage lot and we'll all move into the house.
I guess after that, we'll be "Part-Timers". : )
But, we still have about 5 1/2 months that we're going to be full-timing, and who knows where we'll go or what we'll see in that time. I'm looking forward to every second and every inch of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Did you know that the average lead pencil can can be used to draw a line 35 miles long?
Woof!!!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Downsizing
Rantoul, IL.
64 deg. overcast, SSW wind @ 13 mph.
Forecast = Today: Partly cloudy with scattered storms. Highs around 84°F. South wind 13 to 19 MPH, gusting to 28 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 65%. Precipitation amounts up to one quarter inch possible.
Tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Lows around 68°F. South southwest wind to 16 MPH, gusting to 23 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 45%.
Some of the folks that Jim and Linda know, have asked them what it's like to move from a 45' diesel pusher to a 27' class B motorhome?
Well, it's kind of like when they first went full-timing, selling their house and moving all of your belongings into a RV. Only this time, they didn't have to give away all of the "stuff" that they had in the 45' MH, they just put whatever didn't fit in the 27' MH into the double wide down in Florida.
I think one of the biggest challenges of downsizing RVs has been the reduced space to move around, without being in each other's way. For instance. If Linda is doing anything in the kitchen, whether it be washing dishes or cooking, she has to move before Jim can get to the bathroom or the bedroom, or even get to the refrigerator, for that matter.
Another thing that has changed is the fact that they no longer have all their "stuff" with them. Just the other day, Jim needed to change a fitting on one of the water hoses, but because of outside storage limitations, that container where the replacement fittings are in, is back at the house. So, Jim had to buy a fitting at the store.
Food storage is another big issue. There are fewer cabinets in this RV than in any RV that we've had since we went full-timing almost 12 years ago. That means more trips to the grocery store and buying smaller quantities of food and supplies, like paper products and even snacks. This refrigerator is also smaller than any we've had in the last 6 years or so, and that means less space for meat, frozen vegetables and ice cream.
Also, there's no ice maker in this refrigerator, which is a big minus for Linda. (She likes ice in anything she drinks except coffee). : )
And, of course, everything else is smaller too. Like the bathroom, bedroom and closets.
Oh, and Linda really misses her washer/dryer. : (
But, before you start thinking that Jim and Linda are unhappy with Bobbie T., I want to assure you that they are not!
There are many good things about a smaller RV, such as ease of getting into and out of small campgrounds, not worrying if a CG is going to have a large enough site, less steps to get into and out of the RV, ease of driving through congested areas, handles twisty/turny 2 lane roads better that a large RV, and has much less area to clean, both inside and out.
As far as the lack of storage space, I'm sure that once we get back to Florida, Jim and Linda will make changes of what to bring along on our next trip. There are items that they brought along this time that were not needed, so they can be left at the house and other items brought instead.
It's just going to take some time to figure it all out.
Oh, and one more thing. When we first went full-timing, we traveled mostly on 2 lane roads, avoiding the Interstate highways as much as possible. We stayed in State Parks, COE parks, municipal parks and little "mom and pop" type parks. Through the years, mostly because of purchasing larger and larger RVs, we have not been able to comfortably do that any longer. Both Jim and Linda have missed that type of travel and those type campgrounds and want to get back to that style of traveling again.
Already, when we came from Florida to Virginia this time, we stayed off of the Interstates as much as possible. And, every trip plan that Jim has been working on since we got Bobbie T. has been made utilizing as many non-Interstate highways as possible.
He's even been fooling around with a trip plan for another trip back out to Oregon, that by my estimation, would be on about 90% U.S. and State highways. ; )
If Jim and Linda would not have bought the double wide down in Florida, I think that they would have kept Ermys for at least another year or 2, but then, I'm sure they would have traded him off for something smaller. (Something around 35'). Emrys was just too large for the type of campgrounds and travel that they like.
They would not have gone as small as Bobbie T's 27' though. Both of them agree that for them, she is just too small to live in full-time.
Did you know that on this date in 1955 - "Billboard" reported that "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" was the most popular song in the U.S?
Woof!!!
64 deg. overcast, SSW wind @ 13 mph.
Forecast = Today: Partly cloudy with scattered storms. Highs around 84°F. South wind 13 to 19 MPH, gusting to 28 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 65%. Precipitation amounts up to one quarter inch possible.
Tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated storms. Lows around 68°F. South southwest wind to 16 MPH, gusting to 23 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 45%.
Some of the folks that Jim and Linda know, have asked them what it's like to move from a 45' diesel pusher to a 27' class B motorhome?
Well, it's kind of like when they first went full-timing, selling their house and moving all of your belongings into a RV. Only this time, they didn't have to give away all of the "stuff" that they had in the 45' MH, they just put whatever didn't fit in the 27' MH into the double wide down in Florida.
I think one of the biggest challenges of downsizing RVs has been the reduced space to move around, without being in each other's way. For instance. If Linda is doing anything in the kitchen, whether it be washing dishes or cooking, she has to move before Jim can get to the bathroom or the bedroom, or even get to the refrigerator, for that matter.
Another thing that has changed is the fact that they no longer have all their "stuff" with them. Just the other day, Jim needed to change a fitting on one of the water hoses, but because of outside storage limitations, that container where the replacement fittings are in, is back at the house. So, Jim had to buy a fitting at the store.
Food storage is another big issue. There are fewer cabinets in this RV than in any RV that we've had since we went full-timing almost 12 years ago. That means more trips to the grocery store and buying smaller quantities of food and supplies, like paper products and even snacks. This refrigerator is also smaller than any we've had in the last 6 years or so, and that means less space for meat, frozen vegetables and ice cream.
Also, there's no ice maker in this refrigerator, which is a big minus for Linda. (She likes ice in anything she drinks except coffee). : )
And, of course, everything else is smaller too. Like the bathroom, bedroom and closets.
Oh, and Linda really misses her washer/dryer. : (
But, before you start thinking that Jim and Linda are unhappy with Bobbie T., I want to assure you that they are not!
There are many good things about a smaller RV, such as ease of getting into and out of small campgrounds, not worrying if a CG is going to have a large enough site, less steps to get into and out of the RV, ease of driving through congested areas, handles twisty/turny 2 lane roads better that a large RV, and has much less area to clean, both inside and out.
As far as the lack of storage space, I'm sure that once we get back to Florida, Jim and Linda will make changes of what to bring along on our next trip. There are items that they brought along this time that were not needed, so they can be left at the house and other items brought instead.
It's just going to take some time to figure it all out.
Oh, and one more thing. When we first went full-timing, we traveled mostly on 2 lane roads, avoiding the Interstate highways as much as possible. We stayed in State Parks, COE parks, municipal parks and little "mom and pop" type parks. Through the years, mostly because of purchasing larger and larger RVs, we have not been able to comfortably do that any longer. Both Jim and Linda have missed that type of travel and those type campgrounds and want to get back to that style of traveling again.
Already, when we came from Florida to Virginia this time, we stayed off of the Interstates as much as possible. And, every trip plan that Jim has been working on since we got Bobbie T. has been made utilizing as many non-Interstate highways as possible.
He's even been fooling around with a trip plan for another trip back out to Oregon, that by my estimation, would be on about 90% U.S. and State highways. ; )
If Jim and Linda would not have bought the double wide down in Florida, I think that they would have kept Ermys for at least another year or 2, but then, I'm sure they would have traded him off for something smaller. (Something around 35'). Emrys was just too large for the type of campgrounds and travel that they like.
They would not have gone as small as Bobbie T's 27' though. Both of them agree that for them, she is just too small to live in full-time.
Did you know that on this date in 1955 - "Billboard" reported that "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" was the most popular song in the U.S?
Woof!!!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Brrrrr!!! It's Cold and Getting Ready For The Holiday
Rantoul, IL.
38 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Today: Sunny. Highs around 64°F. North wind to 10 MPH.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 43°F. Northeast wind to 7 MPH.
Brrrrrr!!!!!!! I'm sure glad that I've got my little red shirt on!!!! I'd be freezing if I didn't, 38 degrees is just too cold for late May day in central Illinois!!!!
One good thing about it, though, is that as this cold front came through, it pushed the windy conditions away that we've been having. ; )
RVs are already starting to filter into the park here in Rantoul. I don't know just how many, but I would guess somewhere between 5 and 10 came into the CG yesterday and I'm sure there will be many more today. And, by the end of the day tomorrow, it should be completely full.
Speaking of Holidays, I think that it was the first year that we were full-timing that Jim and Linda realized that for major holidays, you had better get into a CG or RV park early, and then just hunker down. I don't remember for sure which holiday it was, ( I think it might have been our first 4th of July as full-timers), that we ended up driving for miles trying to find a CG that had a vacant space. There wasn't good cell phone signals way back then, so we couldn't call ahead easily, but we finally found a CG. It was less than desirable though, with lots of noisy people and a jillion kids running through the sites. : (
There will probably be quite a few kids here at this park this weekend and lots of people celebrating the holiday, but from past experience, Louise and Paul won't let any of them get out of hand. I've seen many the time when Paul or Louise has gone over and had a "talk" with a group that was getting too rowdy or their kids weren't behaving.
Yesterday evening, Jim and Linda took CLT and went to the China Express Restaurant here in Rantoul. They have a very good buffet or you can order off of a menu.
Don't know what's happening today. They're forecasting a cool but very nice day, so I'm sure Jim will be out and about for a change. As for me, I'm looking forward to watching all the RVs coming into the CG. It's always interesting to watch people set up their RVs and campsite.
Well, I'd better go. I've got to remind Jim to put his American flags back out. He brought them in the other day because of the strong winds. ; )
Did you know that Memorial Day was first called “Decoration Day” because of the practice of decorating soldier’s graves with flowers?
Woof!!!
38 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Today: Sunny. Highs around 64°F. North wind to 10 MPH.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 43°F. Northeast wind to 7 MPH.
Brrrrrr!!!!!!! I'm sure glad that I've got my little red shirt on!!!! I'd be freezing if I didn't, 38 degrees is just too cold for late May day in central Illinois!!!!
One good thing about it, though, is that as this cold front came through, it pushed the windy conditions away that we've been having. ; )
RVs are already starting to filter into the park here in Rantoul. I don't know just how many, but I would guess somewhere between 5 and 10 came into the CG yesterday and I'm sure there will be many more today. And, by the end of the day tomorrow, it should be completely full.
Speaking of Holidays, I think that it was the first year that we were full-timing that Jim and Linda realized that for major holidays, you had better get into a CG or RV park early, and then just hunker down. I don't remember for sure which holiday it was, ( I think it might have been our first 4th of July as full-timers), that we ended up driving for miles trying to find a CG that had a vacant space. There wasn't good cell phone signals way back then, so we couldn't call ahead easily, but we finally found a CG. It was less than desirable though, with lots of noisy people and a jillion kids running through the sites. : (
There will probably be quite a few kids here at this park this weekend and lots of people celebrating the holiday, but from past experience, Louise and Paul won't let any of them get out of hand. I've seen many the time when Paul or Louise has gone over and had a "talk" with a group that was getting too rowdy or their kids weren't behaving.
Yesterday evening, Jim and Linda took CLT and went to the China Express Restaurant here in Rantoul. They have a very good buffet or you can order off of a menu.
Don't know what's happening today. They're forecasting a cool but very nice day, so I'm sure Jim will be out and about for a change. As for me, I'm looking forward to watching all the RVs coming into the CG. It's always interesting to watch people set up their RVs and campsite.
Well, I'd better go. I've got to remind Jim to put his American flags back out. He brought them in the other day because of the strong winds. ; )
Did you know that Memorial Day was first called “Decoration Day” because of the practice of decorating soldier’s graves with flowers?
Woof!!!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Lunch with Randy and Pam and Getting Ready
Virginia Beach, VA.
42 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Today: Sunny. Highs around 59°F. North wind to 9 MPH.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 54°F. East wind to 8 MPH.
Both Jim and Linda were looking forward to meeting Randy and Pam yesterday, so they both were ready in plenty of time meet them at Bubba's Seafood Restaurant & Crabhouse for an early lunch at 11:30. In fact, they were a little early, so they just sat, talked and admired the view of the bay until Randy and Pam arrived.
Once again, (as it is so often with RVers), upon meeting, it was just like visiting with old friends. The conversation flowed smoothly and soon everyone was enjoying a very nice lunch and the great view out of the window.
Randy and Pam have been full-timing for about 4 years now and have a daughter here in Virginia beach, so everyone had something in common. They also have been following this blog for a long time as well as writing their own blog, called "The Roadrunner Chronicles", that Jim has been following.
As they were leaving the restaurant, the hostess was nice enough to take this photo of (from left to right), Jim, Linda, Pam and Randy.
Both Jim and Linda said that they really enjoyed visiting and having lunch with Randy and Pam and are hoping that someday they can get together with them again.
Oh, and Jim and Linda both thought the food and service at Bubba's was very good too, and will more than likely go back there again. : )
After they returned here to Joe's, Jim started getting Bobbie T ready to leave. He checked the tires, put some water in the fresh water tank and then put all the water hoses away. (He had to use 3 of those white hoses to reach the faucet inside of the garage).
After finishing those chores, he came inside and took a nap. ; )
Being that they had a very large lunch, for dinner, Jim and Linda just ate a sandwich out here and then went inside to visit with Joe, Nancy, Sami and Amber for awhile. Then, about 9:00 they came back out here to Bobbie T, watched a little TV and then went to bed.
Being that Nancy, Sami and Amber will be leaving early this morning for work/school, Jim and Linda said their good-bye's to them last night. Joe will be home until about 9:00 AM today, so they'll say good-bye to him this morning. Then, as soon as Bobbie T is ready, we'll be heading back down into North Carolina.
We won't be going too far today. Bobbie T's black and grey tanks are really full, so I think that Jim is planning on heading back to that park in Williamston, that we stayed at on our way here. It's only a couple hours away, so it should be another short travel day.
Did you know that Virginia's State flower is not really a flower, but the blossom of the dogwood tree, which is also the state tree?
Woof!!!
42 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Today: Sunny. Highs around 59°F. North wind to 9 MPH.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 54°F. East wind to 8 MPH.
Both Jim and Linda were looking forward to meeting Randy and Pam yesterday, so they both were ready in plenty of time meet them at Bubba's Seafood Restaurant & Crabhouse for an early lunch at 11:30. In fact, they were a little early, so they just sat, talked and admired the view of the bay until Randy and Pam arrived.
Once again, (as it is so often with RVers), upon meeting, it was just like visiting with old friends. The conversation flowed smoothly and soon everyone was enjoying a very nice lunch and the great view out of the window.
Randy and Pam have been full-timing for about 4 years now and have a daughter here in Virginia beach, so everyone had something in common. They also have been following this blog for a long time as well as writing their own blog, called "The Roadrunner Chronicles", that Jim has been following.
Both Jim and Linda said that they really enjoyed visiting and having lunch with Randy and Pam and are hoping that someday they can get together with them again.
Oh, and Jim and Linda both thought the food and service at Bubba's was very good too, and will more than likely go back there again. : )
After they returned here to Joe's, Jim started getting Bobbie T ready to leave. He checked the tires, put some water in the fresh water tank and then put all the water hoses away. (He had to use 3 of those white hoses to reach the faucet inside of the garage).
After finishing those chores, he came inside and took a nap. ; )
Being that they had a very large lunch, for dinner, Jim and Linda just ate a sandwich out here and then went inside to visit with Joe, Nancy, Sami and Amber for awhile. Then, about 9:00 they came back out here to Bobbie T, watched a little TV and then went to bed.
Being that Nancy, Sami and Amber will be leaving early this morning for work/school, Jim and Linda said their good-bye's to them last night. Joe will be home until about 9:00 AM today, so they'll say good-bye to him this morning. Then, as soon as Bobbie T is ready, we'll be heading back down into North Carolina.
We won't be going too far today. Bobbie T's black and grey tanks are really full, so I think that Jim is planning on heading back to that park in Williamston, that we stayed at on our way here. It's only a couple hours away, so it should be another short travel day.
Did you know that Virginia's State flower is not really a flower, but the blossom of the dogwood tree, which is also the state tree?
Woof!!!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Light Connector, Prescriptions and Sami's Pre-Graduation, Graduation Party
Virginia Beach, VA.
63 deg. overcast, SW wind @ 4 mph.
Forecast = Today: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs around 55°F. Windy, with a north wind 10 to 20 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 25%.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 48°F. East wind 2 to 9 MPH.
About 9:00 yesterday morning, Jim went out and proceeded to remove that damaged light connector on the back of Bobbie T. Once he had the old one off, he installed the new mounting bracket in a different location, where hopefully it won't get damaged as easily. Then, after re-attaching all of the wires, it was time for a test, so he pulled CLT up to the back of Bobbie T and hooked up the cable.
Guess what? CLT's brake lights wouldn't work properly!!!!
Jim checked the wiring that he had done at the connector, It was OK, then checked the cord's plug on the front if CLT. It was also OK. Then, he moved to the rear of CLT and finally found a bad connection way back there!!! Jim says that the wiring on the back of CLT is a mess and will have to be completely gone though. : ( That, is not a project that he is looking forward to, but he feels that there will be more problems if it's left as is.
Right now, it's working and hopefully it'll be OK until we get up to Rantoul, where Jim will have more time to dig into it.
Right after lunch, Linda called Walgreen's and inquired about her prescriptions. They said that everything was in, so Jim and Linda took CLT and headed over there to pick them up. After returning, they both took naps. : )
I think it was about 5:30 when Jim and Linda went into the house. Once inside, a couple pizza's were ordered and soon the delivery guy was at the door delivering them.
Then after eating, it was time for Sami to open her pre-graduation, graduation gift.
I think she was really surprised. You see, way back when she was born, Jim and Linda bought U.S. Savings Bonds for her and have been saving them all these years. It is quite a sizable amount of money, (which she desperately needs for college this fall), so they were very much appreciated. : )
After visiting and watching some TV, it was time to say good-night.
Today, Jim and Linda are planning on meeting up with another full-timing couple, Randy and Pam Warner, at a restaurant in the North part of Virginia Beach, (near the Chesapeake Bay), for lunch. It should be fun and Jim and Linda are both looking forward to seeing them. : )
Then, after they return, they'll need to start getting Bobbie T ready to leave tomorrow.
A Point To Ponder : Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all"?
Woof!!!
63 deg. overcast, SW wind @ 4 mph.
Forecast = Today: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs around 55°F. Windy, with a north wind 10 to 20 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 25%.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 48°F. East wind 2 to 9 MPH.
About 9:00 yesterday morning, Jim went out and proceeded to remove that damaged light connector on the back of Bobbie T. Once he had the old one off, he installed the new mounting bracket in a different location, where hopefully it won't get damaged as easily. Then, after re-attaching all of the wires, it was time for a test, so he pulled CLT up to the back of Bobbie T and hooked up the cable.
Guess what? CLT's brake lights wouldn't work properly!!!!
Jim checked the wiring that he had done at the connector, It was OK, then checked the cord's plug on the front if CLT. It was also OK. Then, he moved to the rear of CLT and finally found a bad connection way back there!!! Jim says that the wiring on the back of CLT is a mess and will have to be completely gone though. : ( That, is not a project that he is looking forward to, but he feels that there will be more problems if it's left as is.
Right now, it's working and hopefully it'll be OK until we get up to Rantoul, where Jim will have more time to dig into it.
Right after lunch, Linda called Walgreen's and inquired about her prescriptions. They said that everything was in, so Jim and Linda took CLT and headed over there to pick them up. After returning, they both took naps. : )
I think it was about 5:30 when Jim and Linda went into the house. Once inside, a couple pizza's were ordered and soon the delivery guy was at the door delivering them.
Then after eating, it was time for Sami to open her pre-graduation, graduation gift.
I think she was really surprised. You see, way back when she was born, Jim and Linda bought U.S. Savings Bonds for her and have been saving them all these years. It is quite a sizable amount of money, (which she desperately needs for college this fall), so they were very much appreciated. : )
After visiting and watching some TV, it was time to say good-night.
Today, Jim and Linda are planning on meeting up with another full-timing couple, Randy and Pam Warner, at a restaurant in the North part of Virginia Beach, (near the Chesapeake Bay), for lunch. It should be fun and Jim and Linda are both looking forward to seeing them. : )
Then, after they return, they'll need to start getting Bobbie T ready to leave tomorrow.
A Point To Ponder : Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all"?
Woof!!!
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