Taking it easy

Winter is “March” ing to an end and our sojourn in Florida is almost over. We are still in the Orlando Thousand Trails campground and pretty much just taking it easy. 

One of the regular entertainers here, Mike Thomas performed last weekend and introduced a new program. Instead of a keyboard and electronic music sound system, he has a new show in which he sings and plays acoustical guitar. I liked the new show a lot. Mike is a big Neil Diamond fan and plays a lot of his music in the keyboard performance. He did very little of Diamond in the new show, which I appreciated and judging by the audience reaction so did a lot of other people.

There are flea markets everywhere down here and a new one recently opened up just around the corner on Rt 192. Two buildings, all air conditioned, normal flea market vendors. I bought a set of dominoes, Millie bought some strawberries. The best part of the outing was our favorite Mexican restaurant “Chuys” is just down the road. We stopped there and enjoyed another great meal.

Sunday Millie and Rebecca went shopping at Jo Ann’s fabrics in Kissimmee and Clay and I worked on the rear slide out of his motorhome. The large slide out extends evenly but when you retract it one end comes in much faster than the other. This results in one end out about 6 inches when the faster end closes and the pump bypass valve opens. There does not appear to be any mechanical binding. The motorhome has a hydraulic system for the slides.

We researched it online and decided to try bleeding the system to see if it had any air in it. The procedure calls for the slide cylinders to be retracted and then bleeding the return lines where they connect to the synch cylinder. There was some foamy looking oil at one fitting but I never saw any significant bubbles. We didn’t accomplish much but we did establish a procedure for retracting the slide so he will be able to get home and take it to a servicing dealer. In my for what it’s worth opinion, I think there is an internal leak in one of the hydraulic cylinders or the synch cylinder.

I don’t know what it is about membership bulk buying stores but when I ran out of Kirkland Coffee from Costco that was reason enough for us to drive up to Orlando. We didn’t buy a whole lot, we don’t have much storage in the bus, but we’re still eating the giant cherry pie!

Tuesday is $6 movie day in Clermont and we went to see “Run all Night” with Liam Neilson. Millie rated at 6.5 and I gave it a 7.5. I thought it had a good storyline but it was very brutal and that reflects the low scores we give it. Then again, it was a movie about gangsters and hit men so I guess that is to be expected.

Wednesday was a girls shopping day in Clermont, but I don’t think either Millie or Rebecca came home with much. Buying isn’t necessary for a successful women’s shopping experience, so I guess as long as they enjoyed themselves it was a good day.

I had discovered that one of the trailing arms of my tow bar had been bent when it disconnected in West Palm Beach. It was barely perceivable at a glance but would bind when sliding in or out when attaching it to the jeep. I had already towed with it before I discovered the damage and was planning on using in this condition until I got home. I was checking the bulletin board at the activity center and saw the same model tow bar for sale at $300 by someone here at the campground. The tow bar’s retails for $999. but can be bought online for around $775. + shipping.

Before I contacted the seller I called the manufacturer to check on parts for my tow bar. Blue Ox informed me they did not sell just the sliding portion of the arm and I had to replace the entire right arm assembly. Cost $245. + shipping.

Obviously, I then called and made arrangements too see the complete tow bar offered at $300. The owner had recently switched from a motorhome to a fifth wheel RV and no longer needed the tow bar. Try as I might, I couldn’t get him to negotiate on the price, but he did throw in the coiled safety cables which cost $75.

The new tow bar is installed on the motorhome and I still plan on repairing my original. I’m certain the arm can be straightened, and then I will keep it as a spare.

Last, but not least, we finished watching season six of “24”. Neither one of us watched the series when it was on TV but we’re hooked on it now. Each episode is one hour of a day in the life of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) an agent with CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit). A whole season is one 24 hour day in which Jack, mostly single handedly, often gone rogue, battles the forces of evil that threaten the US. 

The show is so unrealistic that we are often laughing at the incredible achievements of Jack and CTU but each episode ends with a cliffhanger that keeps you coming back for more. One scary thing about the show is some of the terrorist attacks depicted have come true or are threatening us today.

Dammit! Come back Jack, the country needs you!

PS: Dammit, is one of Jack’s frequently used lines in the show.     

Bachelor-ing for a week

So there I was bachelor-ing it for a week, Millie had flown out to New Mexico to visit Family, what to do? It’s been getting warm here in Florida, not that I’m complaining but the girls have been feeling it. They haven’t had a haircut since we left home and both had thick hair. Heck I thought, I can cut their hair, so I got my electric clippers and said “who’s first?” Neither dog moved.

Before I married a hairdresser I cut my own hair but had never cut a dogs so I volunteered Maggie first. Her hair is mostly straight and I reasoned it would be simpler than Dixie’s wire hair. Maggie wasn’t afraid of the clippers, in fact she was a little too relaxed. Have you ever tried cutting a dogs hair while it’s lying down? It gets difficult to see where you had already cut when the customer is rolling around in cut hair, but somehow we prevailed.

Dixie was almost a repeat performance, the only difference was I think she liked the attention she was getting from me more than Maggie did. Dixie also chose to get her haircut while lying down. Both girls ended up with reasonable hair cuts and they are much cooler. I ended up covered in dog hair and in need of a cool shower. 

My next project was to replace a switch in one of the lamps in the motorhome. I had already tried disassembling the switch and cleaning the contacts but that was unsuccessful. Being an electrician I can’t convey how damaging that was to my ego, but I was determined to fix the lamp. When I went to Lowes I already knew they weren’t going to have an exact replacement switch. Do you think maybe I’ve spent too much time at the Lowes electrical department? Anyhow I picked a suitable replacement and after a little modification the light fixture was repaired. This should score me some points with the wife, as the fixture is mounted above her desk.

On Tuesday March 17 I moved the motorhome back to Orlando Thousand Trails Campground. This will be our final scheduled stay in Florida this winter. We will depart from here on March 30 and start our migration back to Myrtle Beach.

Between making and breaking camp on the move to Bee’s Resort and back during our “out” week and taking care of the girls I haven’t got much accomplished. I know I am supposed to be retired but I still can’t just sit and do nothing, I always feel guilty if I’m not working on something.

In no time at all, it was Thursday and Millie was flying back in from New Mexico. I hurriedly did some housekeeping to make the motorhome look like I could get along without her. Why do we do those things, when just the opposite is true? Thursday evening I waited at the airport for my love and was once again whole when I saw her walking towards me from the arriving passenger gate.

When we pulled in next to the motorhome, the girls who had been waiting on the dash jumped up and started their happy dance. They jumped down and ran to the door as we walked past the windshield. It’s a heartwarming sight to see when the girls greet their Mom after one of her trips. They’re all wiggling tails, happy dances and kisses. Our little family is together again.

Central Florida

I got an email yesterday and the writer mentioned that she missed reading the Dispatch. I know I haven’t written in a little bit and pulled the blog up to refresh my memory. I was shocked when I saw my last entry was on Feb 28^th. Where does it go? Time, where does it all go?

On Saturday the 28^th of February my notes say it rained all day and we watched old movies on TV. I also posted last on that date so I guess I spent some time at the computer. One day inside and we must have developed some cabin fever, I know you northern readers can attest to that. After two days snowed in, (that happened frequently where I lived) you just have to get out and do something. Anyhow, on Sunday we went to Chuy’s, one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for lunch and then drove over to old town just to walk around outside for a while. Old town is a street of restaurants and shops whose claim to fame is the frequent classic car cruise-ins it hosts. We were too early for Sundays cruise-in so it was pretty quiet.

On Monday we drove to the giant Webster’s Flea Market. All of the usual hundreds of vendors and thousands of shoppers were there, including the oddities, like the flea market stall massage parlor.

The last time we were here Millie bought a scarf for one dollar. It was not a keep warm scarf, but a light fashion accessory. At the time I tried to give her five dollars to buy more of different colors but she declined wanting to try the one she bought first. So here we were again, after driving 40 miles and walking untold steps we finally found the scarf vendor and purchased the remaining four. Now in a woman’s world this has been a successful and fun experience. I’m still scratching my head about that as it is totally contradictory to men’s shopping. Men plan the attack, enter the store and go directly to the targeted items, secure the packages and get out! Women shop?

On Monday the 3^rd I started a much needed motorhome project. Every electrical outlet on the driver’s side of the bus was on the same circuit. In the morning every high wattage appliance e.g. coffee pot, hair drier, fireplace heater, we use is on that side. Over the next four days, working a little each day I changed that side into three circuits, bedroom, bathroom, and living area. A motorhome is not like a house and routing new wires in a professional manner and doing so in accordance with the National Electric Code was quite a challenge. I am very pleased with the end result.

One of the reasons the electric project stretched out for days was on Thursday we returned to the Plant City Strawberry Festival to see the Oak Ridge Boys in concert. It was a beautiful sunny day, temps in the 80’s with a slight breeze, just perfect for an outside venue. The performers put on an enjoyable performance, after 40 years of singing together they entertain with enthusiasm and still strong voices.

At the fair we also indulged in strawberry Shortcake, once again choosing the Catholic Church booth and their make your own desert. We also bought some fresh strawberries to take home. The strawberry Festival is one of our favorite Florida things to do and we will miss it if we go to Arizona next winter.

I mention this only because I captured a good picture but when we entered the fairgrounds parking lot the gate attendant mentioned that it was senior day. Just then these two centurions crossed in front of us and I thought here we go again.

On Saturday March 7 we went to see a much anticipated movie, “The second Best Most Exotic Marigold Hotel”. The first movie with this name was very warm and funny, with actors perfectly matched to their characters and a plausible storyline. The sequel was in my opinion a total flop. Millie admits it is not as good as the original but IMHO is biased toward the British actors and doesn’t want to speak ill of them. Don’t waste your time or money.

Later that evening we went to the campground entertainment with Clay and Rebecca. The performer was another singular troubadour armed with a guitar and computerized backup. His name is Lou Renshaw and he was quite good and the fact that he played tunes from the golden era (60’s & 70’s) when songs still had melody and could be danced to made it all the more enjoyable. 

While riding my bike around the campground on Sunday March 8^th I saw my friends Jim and Martha Cavanaugh from North Carolina. I had spoken to them briefly earlier this winter in Peace River and then couldn’t find them when I looked for their motorhome. Mystery solved, they have a brand new one and it’s a beauty. It’s got one of the nicest interiors in both function and design I’ve ever seen. It was good to see them again.

That evening we had dinner with Clay and Rebecca at Outback Steakhouse. No, I still can’t eat red meat, that’s an allergy I guess I’ll have for life. It’s never a problem, every restaurant no matter its specialty always offers alternatives and they are often better than the restaurants themed selections. I had the Wood-fire grilled Salmon glazed with Firecracker sauce and topped with fresh mango salsa and it was excellent.

Monday March 9^th is a lost day. I didn’t write in my logbook and don’t have a clue as to what, if anything, we did this day.

Tuesday March 10^th we moved about 30 miles up the road to Bee’s RV Resort. Millie will be here one day before flying out to New Mexico, the girls and I will stay one week. This park is slowly morphing into a permanent residence park. They are selling lots that people either use for their personal RV site or they place a park model (35 feet max) mobile home on it. I don’t see this as a transient park in a few more years. It’s all about the money I guess, didn’t Billy C say that once, “it’s the economy stupid!”

I know this is hard for you women to believe, but Millie came to Florida without any shoes! No closed toe shoes that is and she is leaving for snow covered to Los Alamos in a day. She keeps a supply of clothes at her daughter’s house but the thought of travel from the airport at Albuquerque to Los Alamos in flip-flops concerned her. So off to the shoe store we go where Millie secures a fine pair of black shoes. You know, I think I may have been hoodwinked into a shopping trip, I'm going to check her side of the closet and see if there are any shoes in there!

Friday March 12 has come; we don’t talk about these departure dates much. These trips to New Mexico are good for Millie and her family and I want her to go. And I don’t mind staying in Florida with the dogs; it’s just the initial separation that pains us.

I know it sounds crazy at our age but we’ve very much in love and still act like newlyweds.  Now, get your finger out of your throat and quit making those barf sounds! Heck, we are newlyweds; it hasn’t been that long since that magical day we met on the beach. We know we’ve started this game late on, but we plan on living the adventure for a long time and these short separations are just part of the journey.