2014-04-30, Wednesday

Yesterday morning, we continued north on I-77 in late winter.  The trees were bear of the pretty spring green leaves that we had left in North Carolina.  As we continued north in South Carolina we entered a river valley that was low enough to show spring green leaves, red bud and dogwood trees.  We continued north and spent last night in Van Buren, Ohio at Pleasant View RV Recreation.

Today’s drive was north on I-75 to US 6, and then west to I-69, north to US 20, and then west to Duncan RV Repair in Elkhart, IN.  Note the trees here in Indiana are just barely getting some green in their branches.

After getting settled in here at Duncan RV Repair., Marilyn and I were watching others arrive, and were very surprised to see Bernie and Carole Patton arrive.  We will enjoy visiting with them tonight, since we have not seen them in a couple of years.

2014-04-28

It is raining here in MacArthur, WVa. at the Wal-Mart, a little south of Beckley.  We only had a few sprinkles before getting here.  Our drive today was 175 miles.  We left Mocksville, NC about 12:30, and stopped about 4 pm.  Our route was US 601 to 431 to I-77.  We did stop to top off fuel at the Flying J in Wytheville, VA.  We should have taken about 40 gallons, but only took 18 because we were down in front.

Don and Sharon Del Rosario probably had their ears burning this morning as Roger Hunkler installed our magne shade.  It looked great.  It may not go up again until we get to Elkhart with the not so good weather.

Type at you later.

2014-04-27

So far, it has been a great week since we left Freightliner Custom Chassis’ service center in Gaffney, SC.

On Wednesday, the 23rd, we drove to Waynesville for an early day before the Escapees Chapter 29 rally.  After checking in, and getting parked, Steve Masterson came out of his rig and gave us a slip of paper with the name and address of an optional dinner out.  We were joined by Chick and Debbie Thompson for our drive to Bogart’s restaurant.  Everyone enjoyed their meals.  I went for a delicious rib eye, and Marilyn had the salmon.

Thursday, the 24th, the rally started.  Registration was at 3:30, followed by a social hour.  Everyone was supposed to bring a beverage to share, and snacks were provided, dinner was on our own.

Friday breakfast was egg casseroles provided, the officers had a meeting, we had a social hour, and dinner was at the Maggie Valley Inn’s Rendevous Restaurant.  Dinner was served family style, and consisted of fried chicken, fried Bassa fish, salad, green beans, mashed potatoes, and banana pudding.  It was delicious.

Saturday, we had scrambled eggs with biscuits and sausage gravy.  After our 4:30 social hour we had a delicious potluck dinner.

This morning, Sunday, the 27th, we had a continental breakfast.  Marilyn and I left about 11 am to drive 150 miles to Mocksville, NC.  We have a 10 am appointment to have a Magne Shade installed for our windshield.

My time during the day at the rally was occupied by my computer, a Windows 8 Dell.  I had tried over 20 times to download and  install the 890 megabyte Windows 8.1 Update.  I finally had to do the Windows Refresh, which reverted the computer back to the factory installed Windows 8.  After doing 95 updates to Windows 8, I was able to download a new copy of Windows 8.1, which included the update I had been trying to download.  Of course now I had to re-install several items of software.  The only thing I lost was my Microsoft Office Outlook Contacts.  I won’t have to retype everything because Marilyn had most of them.  It will still be a pain.

Type at you later.

2014-04-22

Yesterday, we left Fairplay SC, and drove to the Freightliner Custom Chassis repair facility in Gaffney, SC.  After lunch, I signed in, and Pat told me that the tech would be out about 8:05 for a walk-around.  I had a reservation for an M-3 chassis service.

This morning we were up at six because of an alarm smart phone.  Wayne took our coach a little after eight.  We spent a few minutes in the lounge talking with a nice young couple that had a couple of Maltese dogs for our doggie fixes.  Since it was supposed to rain later, we drove to the outlet mall to walk a couple of miles.  We did some shopping, and had lunch at Fatz Cafe.  Marilyn had a Key West Lime fish sandwich, and I had a chicken wrap.  Both lunches were very good.  After lunch, we shopped at WalMart before returning to FCC repair facility.  We sat around and talked some more, and our rig was finished a little after four.  Since we belong to the Freightliner Chassis Owner’s Club chapter of FMCA we had a discount, and the M-3 service was $1340.  We know the service was done right, and we will return for future services, when it is on our route.

We decided to spend another night here in Gaffney before driving a hundred miles tomorrow to attend the Escapees Chapter 29 rally in Waynesville NC.

Type at you later.

2014-04-20

This morning Doug came over for breakfast before he went to work at Advance Auto Parts.  It was good to see him again for a couple more hours.  He came with Stryker, a Yorkie that Laila is puppy sitting.  It was another nice visit.

We then went to WalMart to get fuel for the motorhome at $3.709 per gallon.  We were on the road about 11:30, and stopped for the night about 3:40 in Fair Play, SC.  After a delicious leg of lamb dinner, that Marilyn cooked in the crockpot, I was taking a nap when Allan called for Easter – always nice to hear from him.  Afterwards, I decided to call my sister Ann in Oswego, NY.  She said the snow is gone, but that it is still cold.

Marilyn found Carolina Landing, an Encore park that we could stay in using Passport America for $16.50 for the night.  It did turn in to an expensive night when one of our jacks decided that it had extended farther than it could, so it crashed down.  it did retract, but refused to re-extend.  Another thing to get fixed in the near future.

Type at you later.

2014-04-19

We arrived at Lake Pines RV Park in Midland GA about 11:30AM.  We got set up and had lunch.  We met Doug at his house, and went to Olive Garden for dinner to use some gift cards.  Great evening visiting with Doug.

Friday, I spent the day trying to load Microsoft’s 890 megabyte Windows 8.1 Update.  While Marilyn used Doug’s washing machine and dryer.  We had a drink when Doug got home, and ate leftovers at our house because Doug had to go to work at his second job at Advance Auto Parts.

This morning we took Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits to Doug’s for brunch.  He had to go to work at 12:30.  But we also got to meet with Doug again for his dinner break at Chipotle Grill.  We spent most of the day at Doug’s house.  Marilyn did more wash while I continued to try to load Windows 8.1 Update.  No joy in Windows 8.1 Update-ville on the computer.  It worked fine on my Surface Pro 2.  I may try again next time I have good Wifi.  I was able to load and try out MS Office 365 – thank you very much Peg Gifford.  We are back at the rig for the night.

Type at you later.

2014-04-16

Yesterday afternoon, Marilyn went in to the office to find out the status of our windows.  She was told that they had been re-sealed, and that they would be re-installed in the morning.  We then drove to the post office to mail a card.

They arrived about 8:30 this morning to do the re-stall.Finished with the water test about 10:20 so we were closed up and ready to leave Hudson FL by 11pm.  The four windows are now pretty and clear.

We left Hudson FL about 11am, and drove 214 miles to the WalMart in the City of Roses (Thomaston, GA).  Tomorrow morning we will continue on to visit our son in Columbus, GA.

Type at you later

2014-04-14

We were told that we could register at 6:45am.  I was there at 6:30, and several had already registered.  The screws were all taken out of the four windows we wanted fixed about 8:30 or 9:00.  But it wasn’t until about 12:30 that they took the windows out and taped cardboard in their place.  The cardboard and green tape not only look strange but they darken the room more than our night shades.

The cardboard looks strange from the outside too.

We are crossing our fingers that we will be finished tomorrow.

Type at you later.

2014-04-13, Sunday

This has been a good week.

Thursday we rode with Larry and Carolyn Jarvis to New Port Richie for Larry’s eye doctor appointment.  We stopped at some county park, then we went to Sam’s Breach Bar, recommended by receptionist at eye doctor.  The food was okay, but the dark $2 ale was excellent.

Friday, Eric, re-carpet your rv, did re-carpet ours.  It looks great.  At 4pm we had a bbq potluck at Doug and Sherrie Hill’s. 

Friday, we drove to Lakeland FL to visit Marilyn’s cousin, Paul and Peg Gifford.  l got to help Peg and her setting up her new Windows 8 computer.  She has Office 365 and has let me install one of her licenses.  I am looking forward to trying it.  Peg cooked a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner.  It was a great visit even if we did have to head back to Sumter Oaks.

Today, Sunday, we are on the road again.  We left Sumter Oaks about 1:30 and drove about 53 miles to Hudson FL.  we are parked at Suncoast Designs to get four of our windows de-fogged.

2014-04-08, Tuesday

Today we were supposed to have the carpet replaced in the motorhome.  It is raining here in FL and is supposed to continue most of the day.  Eric called and rescheduled for Friday, so we will still het it before we leave on Sunday.

Last Wednesday I washed the roof of the motorhome amid Marilyn’s complaints about my getting up there.  Then on Thursday the 3rd we went to our last SKP lunch at the Golden Corral in Clermont for the 2013/2014 season.  After lunch Marilyn and I went to Staples with Paul and Peg to look at new computers and tablets.  She bought a Windows 8 all in one over the weekend and is working her way along the learning curve.

Friday we had another great visit with Pete and Mitzi Hull.  Dinner was at Fiesta Grande in the Villages – delicious, and the conversation was wonderful as always.

Saturday I shortened our bookcase in anticipation of getting a new recliner someday.  Then we had a hotdog (supplied by John and Joyce) cookout at the Jarvis.  Sunday I spent washing the Jeep and Phaeton before the parks last ice cream social that we will attend here at Sumter Oaks. 

Monday I continued getting the motorhome ready for travel while Marilyn went to the Webster flea market.  I pulled the house batteries out for topping off, cleaning and greasing the terminals.   The worst part is lifting them while kneeling since there is no slide tray.

That brings us to today continuing to clean and pack for Sunday’s departure.