Places We Have Called Home In 2020

102

December 19, 2020

Temperature 79 Degrees

Wreaths Across America – Florida National Cemetery

Gooooooooooood Morning World!

What a wonderful day we had today.  It began with a nice relaxing morning that included a cup of coffee and a warm cinnamon muffin.  A few hours in my chair with the sun shining warm upon my shoulder sure felt good.

This was a day that we had been eagerly looking forward to for a long time.

In what feels like eons ago while we were in Columbia Falls, Maine we first discovered Wreaths Across America.

It was our privilege to visit their National Office and Museum.

The museum features hundreds of photos, military memorabilia and awards. The museum also has a 15-seat theater showing a video explaining the origin of Wreaths Across America. 

Wreaths Across America was founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun in 1992 by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester.

Their stated three fold mission is to:

Remember Our Fallen Veterans

Honor Those Who Serve

Teach Your Children The Value Of Freedom

Each year with the help of hundreds of volunteer trucking companies, Wreaths Across America is able to honor our Nations Fallen Heroes. The efforts of the generous trucking company owners, the drivers, and all their employees make the mission possible. The trucks are responsible for carrying thousands of Veteran’s Wreaths to Thousands of participating cemeteries across the United States.  The picture above is part of what is known as the Honor Fleet rolling into Washington, DC a couple of years ago with wreaths on board.

Now, we come to today.  Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, their mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,100 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.

Today we were deeply honored to be able to participate in placing wreaths on the graves of veterans in Florida National Cemetery.

This is what we were here to do.

We waited in line to receive our first six wreaths.  We would eventually make two trips through the line.

We found a section of the cemetery where there were grave markers with no wreaths placed on them and prepared to do so.

We placed our wreaths and paid our respects to our veterans who answered the call to service.

Afterwards, the words of this song came to mind

I left the cemetery with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all our veterans who answered the call to service.  Especially for those who gave all.

But I also left with a deep sense of anger.  Anger at all in positions of leadership in our country who today are attempting to destroy our democracy and the very freedoms so many of our veterans gave their lives for.  In my mind they disrespect every veteran by their crass and selfish actions.  My opinon and I’ll say no more.

That was just part of our day on The Road of Retirement.  We’ll share the rest of our day in our next blog.  Time now to wrap things up and call it a night.  Thank you good Lord for the gift of this day.

Thanks for joining us today.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest 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

103

December 18, 2020

Temperature 58 Degrees

Never Doubt The Power Of A Wife Who Can’t Use Her Washer

What a wonderful surprise we received this morning.

But let me back up a bit.

Last night Ms. Barbara went to Lazydays Facebook site.  She posted a comment concerning her displeasure with not only the fact that we still had a leak; but, that they really couldn’t guarantee a date for waranty work.

Come now to this morning.  Ms Barbara’s phone rang and it was the head of the service department for Lazydays.  He listened and asked several questions and then said I’m sending a tech out to you today to get this corrected.  Now that in my book is customer service!  Kudos to Lazydays for standing behind their work.  A little Facebook time can sometimes go a long way.

Just about thirty minutes later our tech – Eric – called to let us know he was on his way.

Once here the decision was made to pull the machine out.  Time to find  out what was leaking.  With the machine out and sitting on the floor Eric ran the machine through two complete wash cycles and would you believe not a drop of water under or along side the machine.  So what gives?

The only thing left has to be something to do with the plumbing that the drain hose goes into.  So tomorrow I’m going to pull a hose in through the bathroom window, stick it in the drain pipe and see if I can find a leak.

Eric – with my permission – cut a larger access hole in the side wall.  When he returns and reinstalls the machine on Monday we’ll be able to now watch what happens in the back behind the machine.  The water has got to be coming from somewhere, the question is where?  And why?

Once out it was obvious why the pan was leaking.  All the original caulking along the seam was gone. Why?  Eric wasn’t sure.   He believes that when they reinstalled the machine the original cauling wasn’t quite dry.  Pushing the machine back in place pulled it out.

The pan is really a silly design.  It has three sides molded in, the fourth side has to be installed and caulked once the pan is in place.  I tried to get a pan with four solid sides but all were too big for this space.  So, the black bead is the line of new caulking.  We agreed to give it the weekend to dry after which the machine will go back in.

While the unit was out I also cleaned the dryer vent hose and the whole general area.

As for our OTA Eric stated while at Lazydays he had numerous channels. I have no reson to doubt him. The net of it is, we are in a dead area.  That is why I’m sure the park offers free cable with each site.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We were totally blown away by what transpired today.  But just as equally happy.  I now know proof positive that there is nothing wrong with the machine.  I’ll run it through several more cycles this weekend just to confirm that it is not leaking.  My bet is still on something in the drain pipe in our rig.  I’ll let you know.

Thanks for everyones concern.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest 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

104

December 17, 2020

Temperature 59 Degrees

Nope It Is Not Fixed

Gooooooooooood Morinng World!

Let me just say this It still leaks.  What else I have to say is not fit to print.

Not only does it leak, so does the drain pain underneath it.

The rug in our bedroom is soaked – again.

Furthermore, they put it back in in such a way that you can never tighten the screw on the dryer vent hose in the back.

Want me to keep going?  I can.

OK, Lazydays says it is under warranty for thirty days.

BUT

They may be able to get us back in around Dec 28/29.  Really.  I would think we should go to the head of the line since they screwed up.   Just goes to show you, though I checked reviews and found them to be favorable, though I thought in my heart of hearts we had a compentent tech leading the charge.  I was wrong on all counts.

Will they make good?  I believe they’ll probably try to stall us until we get fed up and go away.  Oh, but will I ever make a racket in their waiting room the days that I will be there in the future.  Then, yes, I’ll go away and find someone who will really be able to correct the issue.  Never to return again.

Sorry for the rant.  I’m bummed out.  All I want is Ms. Barbara to be able to do her laundry in Elvira far away from all the COVID-19 madness in this world.

That is where we are at on The Road of Retirement.  Yes, this too shall pass.  It will eventually get straightened out.  It’s only money.

Appreciate your checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest 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

106

December 15, 2020

Temperature 74 Degrees

Back Home Again

Gooooooooooood Morning World!

They said they would be at the rig at 7:30 am.  Nope.  They were there at 7:15 am.  Imagine that.

Once they were here we left for doctor appointments and they left with the rig.  We needed to be in Tampa by 9 am.  I had two appointments today.  In the morning was an MRI and in the afternoon I had an audiology appointment.

We finished by 2:00 pm and were headed back to the rig.  Once we arrived we found Elvira back in our site in the campground.

Here is the long and short of it.  Our new OTA is on and working.  The washer/dryer has been repaired and the drain pan installed.  They have a set up in the shop where they hook the units up and test them.  What they found was that the hot and cold water lines had come loose where they entered the machine.  So it is fixed.  I was going to try to do some water proofing of the side walls of the closet but I was not allowed in the shop due to COVID-19.  Perhpas in the days ahead I’ll try and accomplish that.

As for the the slide rollers, they are on order and when they arrive, well, eventually they will be installed.  Before we leave here for sure.  The one is definitely completely gone.  The other three appear to be in good shape.

Of course my wallet is now a lot lighter.  Lazydays does great work.  They are super in terms of customer service.  However, they are the most expensive game in town.  I would go back, but only if I had no other option as was the case with the washer/dryer.  Ah well, it’s only money.

So, work done and the bill paid we headed back to our winter home.  It sure feels good to be back on site and settled in.

That was our day on The Road of Retirment.  It has been a long day and we’re ready to turn in for the evening.  So, if you’ll excuse me I’m calling it a night.

Appreciate your checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest 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!