Spoiling a Good Thing

After sixteen hours down I-95 we made it back to Yellow Jacket before sundown. I was hoping to get in under the din of night. I don’t relish setting up in the dark and “The Rev” was parked in storage over the holidays. We moved it out and promptly set up for the night. Things were just going too smoothly. I knew it. In trying to level up, our right front jack must have been frozen as it wouldn’t come down from it’s housing. And then I noticed a foul odor emanating from near the refrigerator. Not a good thing. Apparently I had lowered the temperature too much in and effort to try and save propane. I wanted to be sure there was enough to keep the furnace running and the water pipes from freezing. Long story short, I pretty much ruined all the food in the box. Upon opening the freezer, a stench comprised of chicken, ground beef, vegetables,  hit like walking into Wholleys fish market in Pittsburgh’s strip district. Robin could have been angry at my haste, but she said not a word. She just ordered me outside to clean out the car while she took care of the mess I made of the freezer and refrigerator, stating that she needed to defrost the unit anyway. What a tactful way to avoid  bringing to light my calamity. After all was clean, Barb and Jerry brought over some holiday cookies and caught us up on the past ten days. It was good to see them again and reminisce over our holiday hiatus. In the morning we bid them farewell for the time being. Plans were to head  for Tampa for a short stint. Robin gave me Outback Bowl tickets for Christmas and Ryan will be flying down to join me in rooting on the Nittany Lions. I checked the internet for surrounding RV parks and found Sherwood Forest in Clearwater. We always like to try new places  in search of yet another “it” factor park. The voice on the phone informed me there would be no problem accomodating us. Three hours down Route 19 and the first look scared me a bit. Another great photographer making a venue look far better on the internet than it appears in person.  The pleasant hostess gave me a choice of two remaining sites. Robin drove the car over to the site, planning to guide me in as it was a back-in site. No way in hell could we have fit. Both sites were at least 15 feet short of what we needed. It irritates me when I explain on the phone the length of  “The Rev” , what our needs are, only to find that accomodations fall far short of expectations. On to Tampa East, a park we stayed in last December, while vacationing with Tom and Deana (aka, Elkhorn Cafe owners). Michelle went overboard in meeting our needs. She provided a concrete site 75 feet in length with excellent TV reception. There’s no cable here and far too many trees to get a good bead on a hovering satellite. The pool, workout room, and laundry are all less than fifty yards away. Today we finalized setting up and headed out for groceries as my fiasco has left us sans food for the past day and a half. Thank goodness for those jellies my brother gave us for Christmas. Spooning it in with the peanut butter hit the spot just right.

Categories: Campgrounds, Full Time RVing, RV | 2 Comments

Seven days makes a change.

What a difference a week makes. Just as we pulled out of Yellow Jacket I shot this view of our Old Glory which I hang off the back of the grill. I just like the look of it waving in front of the Suwanee. Then it was north to the Pittsburgh area to visit with extended family and some friends. Trekked across the Keystone State to New Jersey to visit the immediate family. And just when we get ready to depart a snowstorm hits the Philly area, crippling everything. NJ has declared a state of emergency and all road traffic is forbidden this evening. We booked another night at this Marriot and will try again tomorrow. I’m not getting used to it, but I’m getting better at hotel living. We have a sweet suite here for a decent sum. I told Robin a week ago I thought I missed the snow. It is beautiful but I’m having second thoughts on that statement I made. However, I’d not trade this time with the kids for anything. But fish and family start to smell after three days so hopefully the highways will again reopen in the morning. I need to remember to retrieve an old tire in South Carolina that was left for repair on the way up last week. If all goes well, we should be back at Yellow Jacket by Thursday at the latest.  

Categories: Full Time RVing, Road Trips | 1 Comment

Stop and Shop

The week has been a whirlwind. First it was Christmas with Robin’s family as the siblings all get together on the Sunday before. This gives each individiual family time to spend with their immediate loved ones. A great idea. Next it was party time with the neighbors on our old street. And then onto my sister’s to make cookies. In between we’ve been in meetings with family members to take care of legal items. We’re all growing old and preparation for the future is imminent. When there was down time, we’ve spent it shopping. Goodies, toffee, and those last minute stocking stuffers never seem to end. I just love buying gifts for people. We’ve been camped out at the Candlewood Suites for the past six days and tonight we’re invited to a party in the lobby. It’s being hosted by people from Texas up here drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale vein. I just happened to be chatting with a lady from ‘Nawlins out in the hall and the next thing you know, we’re partying down with cowboys from the Lone Star. Be back soon, they’re pouring me wine.

Categories: Full Time RVing, People | 1 Comment