Places We Have Called Home In 2020

(We’ve added a new stop to our link)

Home Is Where We Park It:  Silver Springs State Park Campground, Ocala, Florida

September 17, 2020

Temperature 82 Degrees, 

The Rain Came – Sort of 

Travel Day

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again we are two of the most fortunate and blessed people on the face of the planet.

Thursday called for 80% chance of rain.  Not the best for a travel day.  Well, Wednesday night it poured throughout the night.  However, at 7 am it stopped.  The question, though, was but for how long.  The answer was long enough for us to leisurely pack everything up to get ready to roll.  In due time, after a few hours spent watching Deep Space Nine, everything was put away and by 10:30 am we were on the road.

The roads were in terrific shape.  The traffic was light.  As for the forecasted rain?  We hit three really bad storms with winds gusting from the side and torrential rain.  So glad I treated the windshield with RainX.   Yet, not one of the storms lasted for more than ten to fifteen minutes.  Overall, a total of about thirty to forty five minutes of rain which I say is not bad for a trip of two hours.

A call to the park confirmed that we could come in early so we pushed on despite the rain.

Two hours later we were at the entrance to the campground.  A quick stop to pick up our registration packet and off we went to find our new home.  But once again we were left shaking our heads, Not one of the rangers who came to the rig to check us in was wearing a mask. 

From the ranger station to the turn for the campground sites is about a mile and a half.  You make a right. . .

A short ride to the end of the road, another right hand turn into our loop. . . .

Around the loop. . .

Home sweet home for the next two weeks.  We have a pull through with FHU.  The site is hard packed gravel but by no means level.  No problem, the jacks made easy work of getting level.  Out came the slides.  Almost there.

So far no rain.  But. . .

The skies didn’t look too promising.

I quickly plugged into the electric pedestal; I got the sewer hose on; then I hooked up the water filter and softener.   The window and door awnings came out.  The tire covers and the tow bar cover were put on.  And not a minute too soon.

The heavens opened up and the rain came down.  It was like being doused with a fire hose.  Then it stopped.  Then it started again.  This was the pattern for the remainder of the day.  On again, off again.  But what did we care, we were cool, dry and comfortable inside.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  What could have been a wet, miserable travel day turned out to be a walk in the park.  Plus, we were able to get completely set up without a drop of rain.  Yes, we are blessed and fortunate.  Bonus, we again have TV!  What we discovered is that we really only need two of the three satellites on the western arch to get all of our programs.  Yipee!  Thank you good Lord for watching over us while we were on the road.

Thanks for checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company as well as your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

Home Is Where We Park It:  Suwannee State Park, Live Oak Florida

September 16, 2020

Temperature 75 Degrees, 100% Humidity

The Rain Keeps Coming

Getting Ready to Roll

I can only imagine how those in the Gulf Coast must feel right about now.  Day upon day of rain is really depressing.  It just keeps coming.  I’m so glad, though, that we are where we are right now.

Our previous location in Summerdale, Alabama is currently under a hurricane warning.  Not the place to be in an RV of any size.

 

On Monday we decided we just had to get out.

We stopped at Waffle House for breakfast.  This is a restaurant I believe in search of an identity.  According to the name one would think that waffles would be their thing.  Quite the contrary, try to find waffles on their menu.  The whole menu is filled with all kinds of egg dishes.  In a corner of the menu, near the bottom you’ll find a really small section for waffles.  Maybe it is just me but I find that sort of odd.

Then it was on to Wally World for a few necessary supplies, and other odds and ends.

Back home, fixin time.

Our antenna is fixed.  The wheel is back in its rightful place and now like us it can roll on.

Not much more to tell.  Ms. Barbara has been cooking up a storm.  Yesterday we had sausage and peppers for our afternoon meal.  It was absolutely delicious and  once again I became a member of the clean plate club.

Remember the gumbo she made for me?  I finally finished it and I’m looking for more.

Speaking of rolling on.  Tomorrow will be a travel day for us.  We’ll be moving to another state park in the vicinity of Ocala, Florida.  It’s an easy two hour drive so I don’t expect that we’ll be leaving much before 10/11 am in the morning.  Which is just as well.  Today and tomorrow morning during the lulls in the rain we’ll pack up.

So begins another wet day on The Road of Retirement.  Let’s be thinking of all those people impacted by this current hurricane.  It sure isn’t something that I ever want to go through.  I’ve dodged one tornado in my lifetime and that is all the weather excitement I ever need.  Time to put the coffee on and get ready for another new day full of all kinds of possibilities.

Thanks for checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company as well as your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

Home Is Where We Park It:  Suwannee State Park, Live Oak Florida

September 14, 2020

Temperature 76 Degrees, 100% Humidity

Anyone Want A Little Rain

Around The Park

Fixing This and That

Are we ever making up for lost time.  The whole first half, maybe more, of this year we never saw a drop of rain.  But now, 3 pm every afternoon you can count on a thunderstorm and drenching rains.  Moreover, based on the track of this current hurricane we are going to see a lot more in the coming days.  Thankfully, we’ll be spared the brunt of this storm as it is well west of us.

A few pictures now from around the park.

I’m not sure what this is but it is kinda cute.  We found him sitting on a fence post on our morning walk around the park.

Do you think just maybe that David and Lisha have been to Rosewell, NM?  I keep looking for them so I can ask them but as of now I’ve never seen them outside.

The Suwannee River after which the park is named.  This is the big draw here.  It offers some of the best canoeing or kayaking opportunities in the state. They say that a trip on the river allows you to see cypress trees, southern magnolia, herons, American coots, turtles and hawks.

One of the many small streams that feed into the river.

Two of the many trails within the park.  When we were first here I hiked each and every one of them.

This cemetery is all that is left now of a thriving town that once was located in this area.

Back at home, seems something always needs fixing

 When I opened the bathroom door the other day it just didn’t feel right.  Lo and behold the bottom hinge was no longer securely fastened.  Both screws had come out and gone where only screws go to hide.  Two new screws and some wood glue and the door is now like new.

Speaking of doors – our entrance door sort of jammed the other day.  It just did not want to open.  Imagine being trapped inside your RV with no way out.  Then, all of a sudden I heard a pop and something small landed at my feet.  It turned out to be the rivet that held these two door straps together.  The door was now free to open, open way too far.  Ms. Barbara to the rescue.  She suggested for the time being using a tie wrap from a loaf of bread.  It works like a charm.  The door now swings freely and it once again locks in the open position even as it is supposed to.  Once we are settled in our winter home I’m going to try and find these two pieces in an RV salvage yard.

Then there was this.  I was on the step ladder cleaning off our one living room slide. I happened to glance at our satellite antenna and thought to myself Now that looks odd.  This is the wheel which allows the arm of the antenna to roll along the roof as it parks itself.  Well, it was just lying on the roof no longer attached to the antenna.  There is supposed to be a c clip that holds the shaft in place.  Like the screws for the bathroom door this clip departed and had gone to where only they know where they hide.  A trip to the hardware store is in order today.

So we begin another new day on The Road of Retirement.  The sun is up, but you can’t really see it because of the cloud cover.  I’m so used to the sun coming up around 6 am but now it is not until around 7:30 am.  I’m adjusting.  We have some running around to do today.  We’ll be going to Wally World and the local hardware store.  Maybe elsewhere but not sure right now.  A few more days and we are on the road again.

Thanks for checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company as well as your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

Home Is Where We Park It:  Suwannee State Park, Live Oak Florida

September 12, 2020

Temperature 80 Degrees, 100% Humidity

Deja Vu

Maybe this isn’t the park for us.  Two years ago when we were here we found ourselves packing up and getting out before hurricane Michael hit the area.  Now, we’re tracking another tropical storm coming in this direction.  As of now it is supposed to go way west of us which is the good news.  The bad news is that we are expecting drenching rains for the next three to four days.

This is a picture of our site.  I was able to upload it this morning.  Again, it is an ADA site, a concrete pad, perfectly level, with FHU.  Look up and you’ll see our satellite antenna valiantly trying to stay connected to the one lone satellite it found the first day we were here.  Here’s hoping it is successful for another few days.

At first I thought the park was sort of empty.  However, our walk around the loop this morning revealed that of the thirty sites here only four are vacant.  All of the sites, other than ours, are dirt and sand.  I’d say we did really well to score the site we did.

This is the actual entrance into the park.  First, though, you have to go up and over a set of railroad tracks and then you come to this gate.  Unfortunately, they don’t mark how high it is so you just have to figure others have gone before you so you’ll have no problem.

The ranger station where you stop for your registration packet.

The final part of the loop leading to our site.  There is just one long loop around the park.  In the back here the sites are all on the inside.  In the front of the loop there are sites on the inside and outside of the loop.  As you can see, the park is heavily wooded which would be great if you were here during the heat of summer.  Talking to people the first time we were here I discovered that most people come here to go either canoeing or kayaking.  There are two rivers here that are just great for either.

So another day is finished on The Road of Retirement.  We’ve enjoyed our stay here so far and we’ve been able to get a few things done.  I’ve scheduled our appointment for the necessary front end work on Elvira.  In addition we have an appointment set for our annual maintenance.  Wonder of wonders, I also discovered a five star company in the Sumter Oaks area that makes and installs slide toppers and patio awnings.  We’ll turn to them when it is time to have ours replaced.  Other than that we’ve been playing a lot of Mexican Train as well as watching a lot of previously tapped movies.  Ms. Barbara is cooking up a storm.  And of course, naps are also part of the daily routine.

Thanks for checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company as well as your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!