Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 18, 2019

Crisis Averted with Little Graybeard

Today was another work day for both of us so it was up and at it first thing in the morning.  It was a bit difficult getting going since it was a bit cooler than normal today.  It was,in essence, another one of those days when you just wanted to pull the covers up over your head in order to make the world go away.  The world, though, would not go away nor would our responsibilities.

This morning Barbara was back on Gate House duty since there was an early morning class to be held at the Lodge.  She would be collecting the entrance fee for those attending the class.

Today I was a golf cart gopher.  I was tasked with running around the park and doing

whatever needed doing.  I took the leaf blower with me and cleaned several of the public pavilions; I cleaned around and in front of the Visitor’s Center; I cleaned in front of the Lodge before the class began there; and, I roamed the trails around the park making sure everything was in order.

While running the perimeter trail I came across this home that sits just outside the park.  I’ve passed it numerous times but never really took notice of it until today.  First thing

that caught my eye was this small replica of the Statue of Liberty.  Look closely and you’ll also see all kinds of barnyard animals as well as replicas of deer in repose.  In the background there are two statues holding American flags.  How about the big red wheel to the left of the picture.  Here is a view of the front porch with all kinds of odds and ends.  Such a really neat yard which I’m glad I finally noticed.

Once we finished work it was time to go get two tires for Little Graybeard.  The tread was all but gone on the front tires but the back tires had plenty of tread left yet.  The plan was to replace the two front tires and worry about the back two sometime later in the year.  That was the plan.  That plan would soon change in order to avert a full-blown crisis.

We arrived at Tire Kingdom for our 1 pm appointment and verified what we originally wanted to do.  While there we also decided to have the oil changed.   It was time for that.

In went Little Graybeard and in no time at all it was up on the lift waiting for new tires.

First front tire off the rim, time now for the new tire.

And that’s when things got real interesting.  Within minutes the service tech came out and said I need to show you something regarding your back tires.  Each tire is splitting right up between the tread.  That’s when we went from two to four tires real quick!

Crisis Averted – thankfully before any real damage had been done.  The tires were six years old and apparently had just dry rotted and split with age.

A couple of hours later shod with new shoes we pointed Little Graybeard home.  Once back home I gave him a bath and cleaned up the inside.  Here he is with his new shoes.

Once again we’re giving thanks to the good Lord that we caught this issue before anything really serious happened.  We sort of laughed because we weren’t going to address the tire issue for at least another week.  Something, though, motivated us to take care of it sooner and we are sooooooooooo glad we did.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We completed our work duties, we spent the afternoon together, and most importantly we averted a real crisis.  In my mind that makes this day a winner in every way.  Thanks for coming with us again and we hope to have you along with us tomorrow.  Till then, goodnight.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  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 not been before

See you on down the road

Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 17, 2019

A Great Day With Great Friends

Yes, today was Sunday.  Yes, we were supposed to go to church.  No, we never made it.  Nothing wrong we just couldn’t get moving.  All I remember is saying I’m going to lay down for a few minutes and the next thing I knew church was long past!  It happens sometimes like that.

With nowhere to go and nothing really to do we just hunkered down and threw some blankets on to keep warm.  We’ve dropped over 30 degrees since yesterday and it just feels cold.  I know, nothing like those up north are putting up with.

Barbara and I decided lunch at Cracker Barrel would be her treat today.  We also decided

that it would be really nice if Steve and Patti could come with us.  I walked down to their rig and when I got there I was lucky enough to find that Steve had just made a fresh pot of coffee.  So I sat and had a cup of coffee and jawed for a bit.  I asked them to come with us to Cracker Barrel and they were more than willing.  Fantastic.

A few hours later we all gathered together and we were off to Cracker Barrel.  The wait at the restaurant was not long and so within a short period of time we were all sitting down to our afternoon meal.  This restaurant remains a favorite of ours.  You always get a great meal with super service.  So we filled our tummies and then decided there was only one thing left to do – go for ice cream!

Where to go?  We all had the same idea at the same time.  We were going to a Wisconsin original that is now in Florida, Culver’s.  Their story is simple.  In 1961, George and Ruth

seized an opportunity to buy their first restaurant. With no formal training, only Ruth’s warm and gracious hospitality and George’s natural command of the kitchen, the two proved a great team. With their kids growing up serving guests and learning firsthand about hospitality and delicious food cooked to order, the Culver family’s team approach became the model of many successful restaurants and supper clubs to come.  Then, in 1984 came an idea for a restaurant no one could resist. Craig combined a love for his mom’s homemade hamburgers with his favorite childhood vacation treat, Fresh Frozen Custard.  The rest as they say is history.

Here we are at their new store in Brooksville.  This is just after we polished off our treats.  Do you think we enjoyed ourselves?  You better believe we did!

This store is so new it still has the new store smell.  It was a great choice to end our time out.

We came back home and settled in for a bit.  Tonight the NHRA finals would be aired on FS1 and I invited Steve down to watch with me.  We are both true gear-heads and big fans of drag racing.  At 7:30 pm we each grabbed a chair and sat back to enjoy the races.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  It was a great day with really great friends.  It’s days like this spent with great friends that make this RV lifestyle absolutely priceless.  The day is now done, the races are over and so it’s time to call it a night.  Thanks again for traveling with us we’ll see you again tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  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 not been before

See you on down the road

Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 16, 2019

Happy Birthday To My Better Half

We knew we were not on the work schedule today so we were in no rush to get up.  Thankfully, neither was Marti.  I was up first but I was in no rush to wake the birthday girl – after all today is her day.

We eventually got up and got moving.  Breakfast was first on the agenda.  On the plate today were peppermint pancakes and a side of sausage.  No juice, however, since I forgot to put it in the frig last night.  A couple of cups of coffee rounded out the meal.

Not much on the work or project agenda.  The only real thing that needed attention were the two interior screens in our two Max Air Vents.  It’s amazing how much dust they collect in a really short amount of time.  In short order both were down, cleaned, and back up again.

We then sat down and finally finished our game of dominoes that we started several days ago.  Each time in the past that we tried to finish it something came up.  Either we had to be somewhere or had something that had to be finished.  Not today.

Time now to get ready for the Saint Patrick’s Day Party and Barbara’s Birthday Party.  Our good friends Steve and Patti were hosting a Saint Patty’s Day Party for all the volunteers and when they found out it was also Barbara’s Birthday they were wonderful enough to make it a part of the festivities.

Unfortunately, not everyone made the party but this is part of the group that did.   I didn’t get everyone in the picture, but almost all.  There were another 6 or 7 off to the left around the picnic table.

That wonderful lady in the middle is NoraJean, she is the one who talked us into volunteering when we visited the park last year.

This is Jordan, one of our Park Rangers making a strange concoction made up of Irish Whiskey and Cream Soda.

 

This is his crazy drink, and yes it was good.

Once everyone had arrived it was time for supper.  Patti, all I can say is you absolutely out did yourself.  Supper was beyond delicious!

Supper finished it was time to spoil Barbara.  Once again Patti went beyond the call of duty and whipped up a beautiful chocolate Birthday cake.  Of course we all sang Happy Birthday to my better half!

Hey Barbara this cake is for you!

My thanks to our gracious hosts, Steve and Patti.  They are one fantastic couple and we are so glad the good Lord brought the four of us together.  We will definitely keep in touch with them after we leave the end of the month, and we hope to visit them at their home in Wisconsin sometime either this year or the next.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We had a really great day from beginning to end.  I’m so glad Barbara had a really special day and it is not over yet.  Tomorrow is my turn and I’ll take her out for a lunch of her choice wherever she wants to go.  Hey, she absolutely deserves to be spoiled in every way possible.  Thanks again for joining us on our journey today and we hope to see you tomorrow.  Till then, have a good night.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  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 not been before

See you on down the road

 

Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 15, 2019

Second Verse Same As The First

Today may have been a different day but it was the same as the day before in many ways.  Once again we were on the work schedule so it was up and out by 8 am.  Our duties today were much the same as they were yesterday.  Nothing that we couldn’t handle.

Home by 11 am it was time for brunch.  Today it was a chili cheese omelette, fried ham and corn beef hash.  There was the usual glass of juice and of course a glass of ice coffee.  Just what the doctor ordered to get one going.  Did I say we eat good?

After that there were only a few things that needed to get done.  First and foremost was cleaning the barbecue grill.  We have a small portable one that was badly in need of being de-greased and completely cleaned.  So I went at it with a true sense of purpose and in no time I had it looking like new again.

Next, I decided that I really needed to just sit and finish the book I had started several weeks ago.  I put myself in the chair outside since there was a really nice breeze blowing and kept at it until I had it finished.  One more thing to cross off the list.

Barbara stayed inside since she is once again all bitten up and in a great deal of discomfort.  Some of the bites are on her face, others on her legs.  Nothing she has tried to clear them up has worked so they are just going to have to run their course.  While inside, however, she kept busy on the phone getting Social Security, The Veterans, and several other companies straightened out.  It’s a never-ending battle and someone has to do it.  Thankfully she is more than up to the task.  I just don’t have the patience required and we both know it.

We needed to go to the store to purchase some meat since we didn’t the other day.  We wanted to wait until the freezer was defrosted.  That’s done so now it’s time to replenish the box.

The day ended as it always does, with both of us watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.  It’s amazing how two shows can rope you in and make you just want to watch them.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  It was a laid back easy day that was just what the doctor ordered.  Thanks for coming along with us.  We hope you had a great day as well.  Until tomorrow, time to say goodnight.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  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 not been before

See you on down the road