TURTLE HOUSE AT ELVIRA’S ROOST, MT OLIVE SHORES, POLK CITY, FLORIDA

March 25, 2022

Temperature 75 Degrees

We’ve Made The Decision To Go

Once again the stars seem aligned against us. We spent the better part of last year planning for a full summer of travel in 2022. We scouted the internet for interesting places to visit. We checked out numerous RV parks. We laid out various routes to travel. Everything was coming together just fine. And then. Then, of course being the current cost of fuel. What a shock.

So what about travel this summer? To go or not to go? Our trip will be approximately 7,000 miles in length. We hemmed and hawed. We debated for hours. Common sense screamed stay home. But the call of the open road continued to beckon us to throw caution to the wind and head out.

The open road won out. We’re going back on the road. Probably not the smartest decision we have ever made. Yet, we have our reasons. Me and the rig are not getting any younger. Getting cancer was also like a wake up call. The time to live is now. Understand, I’m not a fatalist by any stretch of the imagination. However, I do believe in living to the fullest the days that God gives me. And less you think I’m the only one eagerly wanting to go, Ms. Barbara is also totally onboard with this decision.

Our first day out will be Wednesday, April 6th.

So, we’ve begun to pack in earnest. I’ve taken everything out of all the lockers and sorted everything out and determined what can stay home and what we need to take. My tools are all onboard.

A wagon full of things that need to be packed in their proper place.

Can’t forget this. The water filters, hoses, regulators, etc. have already been put in their place.

So many things to do. Tire inspection. Slide seals to lube. Leveling jacks to check by running thru a couple of cycles. The operation of the slides needs to be checked. Currently we have two that are giving us fits. But no time to take it in for repairs. They go out, they come in – after a fashion. It is what it is. We’ll live with them as they are. Everything on the roof has been caulked. Locker doors and locks have been lubed.

We’ve moved a good deal of stuff from the house back to Elvira. The weekend before we leave all our clothes, etc. will be brought onboard.

Ms. Barbara is putting together meals that she can freeze then just pop in the Microwave when we’re on the road. She’s buying more stapes and paper goods. Enough probably for the next three months or more. We’re picking up can goods tomorrow. We’ll use the same box system for storage that we used when we lived on the road. It worked like a charm then and I’m sure it will now.

We’re excited and nervous at the same time. Does that seem possible? The price of fuel is the biggest concern. Who knows perhaps mid trip I’ll have to stop and get a job at McDonald’s so that we have fuel money to get home. But the cost of fuel, while a huge concern, doesn’t concern me as much as does the talk beginning to circulate of possible fuel shortages this summer. What a bummer it would be to get to South Dakota and not be able to get home. Time will tell.

Thanks again for stopping by today  We always appreciate your company, and your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before