New Hats For Linda and A Trip To Home Depot

DeBary, FL.

50 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 69F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Not a real lot happening around here. Linda's doing fine but she has almost no energy. Jim did take her over to the American Cancer Society in Orange City the other day so she could look at some of the hats and head coverings that they have. She found 3 hats that she liked and brought them home.

Since they were just laying on the couch, I though I'd try them on to see what they looked like on me. :-)

"Da Bears"

Oops!!!

I think Linda likes this one the best, but it sure didn't fit me!!! ;-) 

Yesterday, Jim got on the Internet and was researching some tools and a small storage cabinet/shed to put in the enclosed area out by the storage shed/workshop. Well, he found what he was interested in at Home Depot, so in the afternoon, he and Linda took CLT and headed over there. Linda waited in CLT while Jim went inside. After a little while he came out with a cart with a large box on it and a smaller box sitting on top of the large one.

The large box contained the storage shed he was looking for and the small one a 7 1/4 inch circular saw.

It was about 3:00 when they returned back here to the house, so Jim decided that he'd see if he could get the shed assembled before dinner. Well, he did it, even though they recommend 2 people for some of the steps. By the time Linda had dinner prepared, (about 5:30), it was finished and sitting in it's spot up against the storage shed/shop wall, next to the entry door.

He plans to use this storage cabinet to store things like a shovel, rake, sprayer, telescoping ladder, and other miscellaneous outdoor tools and supplies. You see, by putting those items in there, it will free up more space inside of the shop so that he can do some small projects in there this winter.

He's also planning on building or buying a cabinet/bench inside of the shop that will be able to hold some more power tools that he will need for those projects.

Did you know that on this date in 1892 - "Triangle" magazine in Springfield, MA, published the rules for a brand new game? The original rules involved attaching a peach baskets to a suspended board. It is now known as basketball.

Woof!!!

Linda And Laura Go To Daytona Beach and Jim Goes Shopping

DeBary, FL.

74 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy with a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. High of 95F with a heat index of 100F. Winds from the East at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20%.

Friday morning, Laura swung by and picked up Linda so that they could go over to the Doctor's office in Daytona Beach to sign the papers so that they would transfer all the test results and doctor's notes to the original doctor that Linda had contacted. There were no problems at all and by Monday, the files should be transferred.

After that little chore was out of the way, Laura took Linda to a little restaurant that she had heard about. Linda said that the food was good, but the best part of the meal was getting to spend time talking to Laura. ;-)

So, what was Jim doing while Linda and Laura were out and about?  Well, he took CLT and headed to ACE Hardware where he bought some supplies to use in the house, a new door latch for the shed and had a couple extra keys made for the lock on the shed. Then, when he got back here to Highland Estates, he went over to the storage yard to check on Bobbie T. and to get a few more items out of her that he and Linda need in the house.

Laura dropped Linda off around 2:00 or so and headed back home.

Thanks again, Laura!!! :-)

Oh, I don't think I told you, but the other day, Jim went over to the new Harbor Freight store and bought a small tool box to have in the house.

It's a neat looking box, but Jim says that it's not real sturdy and probably wouldn't stand up to a lot of beating and banging around. But for the purpose of just holding some tools to use around the house, it should be fine.

It has a nice lift-out tray and  at about 19" wide by 9" high and 8" deep, the box is large enough that it can accommodate the needed tools and still fit nicely at the bottom of one of the closets.

And, it was on sale when Jim bought it! ;-)

Linda did some laundry yesterday. Don't know what's happening today. They still have a few household items that they need, so maybe they'll go shopping.

Did you know that on this date in 1949 - "The Lone Ranger" premiered on ABC? Clayton Moore was the Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels was Tonto.  

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!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Thompson, MI.

51 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast = Partly cloudy. High of 70F. Winds from the SSW at 5 to 15 mph.

I don't know what got into Jim yesterday, but he was busy, busy, busy, all day!!!

Well, most of it. ;-)

It started out in the morning with him cleaning out a small outside compartment that always seems to get water in it whenever it rains real hard.  The other day, we had over an inch of rain in just a short time, and there was actually some water standing in the compartment. He only keeps a few boards in there for leveling, and the lug wrench that came with Bobbie T, so nothing has been damaged.

He has adjusted the latches, and sealed around the door frame with silicone, but nothing seems to help. So, he started looking farther up, and he thinks that the water may be coming in around a window above the compartment and running down in the wall. In fact, after close inspection of the window, it looked like there may be a place where the water could be entering.

By this time, Linda was ready to head to a grocery store to pick up a few items, so they headed back to Jack's again.

The grocery shopping didn't take long, and on the way back, they stopped at an ACE Hardware Store where Jim picked up a tube of silicone sealer.

When they returned, Jim went to work, sealing all around the window.

After he finished with that, he decided that since the weather was so nice, he'd go up on Bobbie T's roof and install that vent cover that he purchased when we were in Shipshewana. Then, since he was already up there, he checked the TV antenna.

Our TV has been "spotty" at best. sometimes we have almost no TV and other times, it seems to come in fairly well. This RV antenna has a booster on it that is operated by a switch inside. For the booster to work, there has to be 12 volts on the center conductor of the coax cable going to it when the switch is turned on. Well, when Jim checked the voltage up there yesterday, he only had 3.4 volts!!! :-(  Not Good!!!!

He checked the coax connector where it attached to the antenna and it looked ok, but was only on there finger tight. Then, he pulled back the boot  on the coax where it goes down into the roof, and found another connector there. This was a splice connector and none of the connections were tight!!! In fact, when he moved the connection around, the voltage would fluctuate at the antenna connection.

After taking the connection apart,  cleaning it up and putting it back together again, (tightened this time), he had 12 volts at the antenna!!!!!

After getting all his tools and sealants put away, he came inside and tried the TV. Now, TV isn't good at all up here, but we haven't been able to get any stations at all since we've been here. But, after repairing the Coax connection, we now have 2 channels!!!! Fox and CBS!!!!

Hooray!!!!!!

By this time, it was getting close to dinner time, so after getting cleaned up, he and Linda headed into town and to a Bob's Big Boy Restaurant, where they had breakfast for dinner. ;-)

After returning, Jim took a little nap, and then they watched TV for the first time since we've been here.

Today is our last day here at Driftwood Shores. Linda wants to do a few more loads of laundry, and I'm sure that Jim will be checking everything outside so that we'll be ready to leave tomorrow morning.

From here, we'll continue heading West into Wisconsin. We'll be taking our time and by Friday, we'll be at Linda's brother's house in River Falls, WI, where we'll stay for a few days before turning South and heading back down into Illinois.

We had another pretty sunrise this morning. Jim went out a took a few photos so I thought I'd share them with you. As usual, you can click on the photos to enlarge them.

Did you know that the Great Lakes — Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Erie — make up the largest body of fresh water on Earth, accounting for one-fifth of the freshwater surface on the planet at 6 quadrillion gallons? The area of all the Great Lakes is 95,160 square miles.

Woof!!!

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!!!

Quite An Adjustment

DeBary, FL.

Day: Partly cloudy. Highs around 77°F. East wind 7 to 16 MPH, gusting to 23 MPH.
Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 57°F. East wind 5 to 13 MPH.

It's been quite an adjustment for Jim and Linda. I was with them when they sold all their "stuff" and moved into their first motor home which was 35' long and I think that even after they moved many of their things into the house, it's just as hard to move from Emrys into this 27' motor home.

The thing that they're having the most difficulty with is storage space. They're used to the big basement compartments and the many and large cabinets and drawers that were in Emrys. In fact even after moving a whole lot of things to the house earlier, yesterday, they took 3 more totes full of things to the house because there just wasn't room.

Another thing that is proving difficult is the overall lack of space for them. Everything is smaller and they always seem to get in each other's way.

I don't think any of these problems are insurmountable but it will take some time to adjust.  

On another note, I think that we're the "talk of the park" here at Highbanks. Everyone that comes by wants to know if Jim and Linda really traded off that big MH for this small one? (I think most of them think Jim and Linda lost their minds).

Jim's been telling some of them that he took the big one to the truck wash and it shrunk!! : )

I had a little adventure the other day. Jim and Linda didn't know it, but I stowed away in one of the totes full of things that they were taking to the house. I hadn't been there and being that I'll probably be living there about half of the year, I wanted to know what it was like.

Here, I'm up on the back of the sofa looking out of the window. You don't see a whole lot, just the neighbor's house.

Then, I went over to the patio door and looked out. I couldn't see much there either.

Oh well, I'll have much more time to explore. To me, the place is huge and It'll take me awhile.

Jim did take a few photos of this new, (to us), motor home yesterday, but didn't load them onto the computer yet. I'll post them when he does.

Did you know that Dogs with little human contact in their first three months typically don’t make good pets?