So we’ve already settled into a routine more or less.  However, I keep thinking in just a few days we’ll be moving and then it dawns on me again we’re here until the end of September.  In a way that is refreshing but in another way I’m already restless.  Go figure.  I’m sure in a few more days I’ll adjust.

Last night we started a game of Mexican Train also known as dominoes.  We finished the

game this morning after breakfast.  I’m starting to lose my touch when it comes to this game.  I used to get the best of Barbara all the time but now the tables have been turned.  I guess you could call that just desserts.    Ah, just wait my touch will soon return.  I think.

Now that the blinds are done what is the next project?  Well, first things first, I need to have the chassis battery tested.  This is the second time that the Battery Tender has

indicated that the battery cannot be fully charged due to a faulty cell.  The last time I tested each cell with a hydrometer and could not discover an issue.  This time I’m going to have it load tested and determine what exactly is going on.   That’s on Monday’s agenda.

After that, there are several items on my project list I want to address.  At the top of the list are awnings for the windows on the driver’s side of Graybeard.  Another item is a permanent water filtration system for our city water.  Then, too, I would like to install

a tire pressure monitoring system.  That’s just for starters.  By Tuesday, I’ll have decided and will be ready to order whatever I need.  Stay tuned.

This afternoon another storm rumbled through.  Poor Marti, once the thunder starts he just doesn’t know where to hide.  All we can do is hold him until the storm passes.

 

Usually, it doesn’t last more than 30 to 45 minutes.  Wind, thunder and lightning, and lots of rain.  Oh, and once again a refreshing temperature drop of between 15 to 20 degrees.  I just hope this pattern continues throughout the next week.  Especially the temperature drop since each day the forecast is calling for temperatures in the mid to upper 90’s.

So that about sums up our day on The Road of Retirement.  Thanks for joining us on our journey, thanks for comments left, and if you have any questions about our lifestyle or anything RV please feel free to ask.

The sun has long since gone down and night is once again all around us.  So I’m going to say goodnight but before going as always let me leave you with something to think upon:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till 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

 

For some strange reason last night was not the best in terms of sleep.  Guess I did too much during the day and just about every part of my body ached.  Ah well, at least I awoke this morning, OK,  with some aches and pains but I was alive.  I’ll take that as a positive.

First thing this morning we loaded all the old valences and blinds in the car and took them to the dumpster.  Since we were out and knowing we needed a few things for tonight’s supper we just kept going.  First stop McDonald’s for a steak, egg and cheese bagel.  Guess what?  They have no bagels.  They have no steak.  What?  What a bummer for sure.  Need to steer clear of this store in the future during our stay down here.

Off to Walmart for some groceries and to try and find a right handed ratcheting screw driver.   The grocery search was successful.  But the search for that special screwdriver?  Nope.  How about Ace Hardware?  Nope.  How about Home Depot?  Nope.  But that is when it came to me, I know how I can make one.  Time to head for home.

Back home the temperature was already at 94 degrees.  Until that is the thunder storm rumbled through.  They were talking about damaging hail, winds gusting to 30 mph, and torrential rain.  We got one out of three, the torrential rain.  Whew, dodged a big one.  Oh, the temperature in the course of the hour dropped from 94 to 74!  Nice.

Time now to get that last blind up.  Thankfully, I learned a few lessons from putting the last one up on the other end of the slide.  As for that special screwdriver?  Remember someone once said Necessity is the Mother of Invention?  So it was for me, out of necessity I made my own.  A ratchet wrench, an extension, a special adapter I had on hand and I was in business.  To wit, this blind only took an hour from start to finish.  Yipee!    The first project is now finished.  Time to move on.

As for supper, wow, is all I can say.  We had a pork roast slow cooked in sauerkraut in the crock pot.  Tender, juicy, and oh so tasty.  Throw in some noodles, some brussels sprouts and a nice cold glass of ice tea and supper was absolutely fantastic.  Barbara definitely out did herself tonight.

So that was our day.  A fun filled and productive day on The Road of Retirement.  Thanks again for joining us on our journey.  We hope your day was everything you hoped it would be as well.  Night is now here, the temperature and humidity are at a comfortable level so it should be a great night for sleeping.  In closing how about this:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till 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

When we awoke this morning you just knew it was going to be another hot, humid day and we were not disappointed.  The temperature topped out again at 94 degrees, humidity of 74% and the dew point was at 65%.  It cooled off a bit in the afternoon when a thunder storm rumbled through.  That, however, did nothing to break the humidity, if anything it was worse after the storm.  I know I’m probably beginning to sound like a broken record.  So, no more grumbling about the temperature – just as soon as it drops at least 15 degrees and stays there!

Well, I’ve twisted and turned and gotten myself into all kinds of weird positions taking down the old blinds and putting up the new ones.  Wish I could say I was finished and I could rest my aching back but that is not to be since there is still one blind to be put up.  All I can say is I hope whoever put the old shades and valances up built the rest of Graybeard.  My goodness those things were put up to stay!  Screw upon screw in all kinds of hidden places.  Whoever put them up I’m sure never thought someone would be taking them down.  Wrong!

Oh yes, I finally got all of the old down and the new up but one.  And I know based on the valence and shade on the dinette end of the slide that I took down this last one on the other end of the slide is also going to be a tussle.  Of course if I had the right tools – a right handed drill attachment and a right handed ratcheting screw driver – it would take half the time that it does.  But those tools are not in my bag of tricks.  Who ever thought I would be needing them.  Anyway, take a look at the change that the new blinds make.  So much cleaner looking.  We absolutely love the look!

While I was taking down the old and putting up the new Barbara decided to go to the

They have a nice one here in the park that is inexpensive and clean.  Always a good thing.  And to boot it is air conditioned.  A big plus in this kind of weather.  So now we have clean clothes to look at the new blinds!

Once again we had a great day on The Road of Retirement.  It’s funny we’ve moved so much in the last couple of months I have to keep reminding myself to slow down there is a whole month to get things done.  30 days in one location.  Seems kind of strange.  I can only imagine what it is going to feel like to spend 5 months in one spot.  Definitely will take some time to adjust to that.

Thanks again for spending the day with us.  We hope you had a great day as well.  Maybe some challenges came your way, maybe some unexpected and pleasant surprises, perhaps even a blessing or two or three.  Each day is always new and fresh and sure to delight.  It all depends on how we approach each one.  No, we can’t control the day but we can control our attitude to what comes our way.  In closing a little something for each of us to think upon:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till 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

Ah, another fantastic day to wake to.  It finally cooled off around midnight.  And stayed that way, oh, until at least 10 am this morning!  We are smack, dab in the middle of a heat wave and there is no relief in sight for at least another week.  Think I’m kidding?

That was 3:40 pm and it kept going up from there.  It finally topped out around 95 degrees.  Ok, I know I said I never wanted to see snow again nor temperatures in the 30’s or 40’s but this is crazy.  Oh well, hopefully some of this will carry over into January.

Today we headed out to Walmart and Aldi.  We hadn’t done a full on shopping trip since the beginning of July. Yes, the cupboards and the freezer were absolutely empty.  A couple of hours later we were back home and here is the result of the trip.  And this is only part of it!

The large cardboard boxes in the back?  Our new blinds.  Now we get to finish the inside and then move on to the outside and window awnings.  So, with drill, screwdriver, and some other tools, I got to work on the one window where the blind had broken and was no longer there.  We had managed to block off the window but it looked awful.  Time to correct that now.  I figured I’d do one window tonight and the rest tomorrow.  Here is the old look with the stock valence and day/night shade in place.  Been there a long time.

Now for the new, cleaner, sleeker look.  I still have to install the hold down brackets and finish installing and centering the top valence but take a look and see what you think.

We’re slowly moving away from the cookie cutter look and making Graybeard our own.  By the time we leave here we’ll have the interior and exterior pretty much the way we really want it.  Our home will be our own and not a replica of every other RV on the road.  Now that is neat.

So, that was our day.  A hot one, but one in which we accomplished a lot.  Shopping is done.  We got a start on installing the blinds.  A great day in so many ways.  And once again we did it together, traveling along, hand in hand, singing our song.

We thank you for joining us today on The Road of Retirement.  We also hope that you too got a lot accomplished.  Hopefully, today you were able to accomplish some projects you’ve been wanting to do for a long time.  As the night comes to a close as always let me close with a thought for all of us to ponder and think upon:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till 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