Sunday, April 21, 2013

Star Date: 04202013 Saturday


Getting better at loading the coach in preparation for hitting the road.  After a court appearance at 10 am, got home about 11:00.  The two of us got coach loaded in about an hour.  Then drained the water tank of some old water and began to fill with new water.  Since it was noon went inside house to eat lunch thinking I will check the water level in about 10 minutes to see if tank is about 1/3 full which is the level I prefer to travel with when we are going to a campground.  No need to carry the weight of a full water tank since the campground has water hookup.  Whoops, finished lunch and realized forgot to check water level.  Discovered where the water overflow port is located.  Turned water off and decided to go with a full tank.

Arrived Thursday after about a 90 minute drive to the Roll ‘N Rebels rally in Kissimmee.  Met the Rebels for happy hour and reminisced about St. Augustine and the adverse weather on the drive home.  The Wilsons hit some severe rain which leaked slightly through the front windshield but no others incurred damages except for our cracked windshield.  Lucky us.  Fortunately, we now have a brand new windshield and with no deductible.  I observed the windshield install and the fact that there was no glue holding the old windshield in place.  Nothing but the gasket.  The installers did a great job and it is now appropriately glued in.  The group split into two parties for dinner and we ended up at Joe’s Crab Shack for blackened redfish, mahi mahi and dirty rice.

Friday was a quick stop at Publix for groceries and then lunch in downtown Orlando with our friends Don & Sandy.  Although I knew we had not seen them in awhile, I was surprised that Don said he had not seen my goatee which came in December 2006.  They both looked great and it was great to get caught up.  Afterward, we headed to Winter Park (about 15 minutes north) and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum.  What a gem!  A wonderful exhibit of Louis C. Tiffany glass, jewelry, lamps and windows among other art.  The museum founders acquired the surviving works of Louis Tiffany when Tiffany’s opulent Long Island 84 room home, Laurelton Hall, overlooking Cold Spring Harbor, burned down.  The museum actually recreates several of the rooms from the home with the artwork from the home.  We spent two hours but could have spent more.  A great bargain too at $5 ($4 for seniors 60 and older of which one of us qualifies - hint: it’s not me).  Back to the coach but stuck in rush hour traffic in Orlando so we missed happy hour.  Dinner with the Rebels at Capone’s dinner theater was worth some laughs and the booze was flowing, included with the fixed price.  Although the temperature hit 90, we were not outside much and the museum was very cold, probably due to a very successful attempt to overcome the heat of all the lights behind the stained glass.

Overnight it rained as a cold front came through.  Saturday was a bit cloudy but temps in the 70's was perfect.  Morning trip to Camping World only 5 minutes away.  Bought a part to hold the  showerhead which I will install about a foot below the existing holder as Rosemary claims is too tall for her.  The afternoon was spent at an art show in downtown Celebration, again only 5 minutes away.  Potluck dinner included Laurie’s chili which was quite good once one added chipotle powder.  Mexican train dominos dominated by the men’s team then back to the coach and at Rosemary’s insistence, the heater.  Geesh, women.

Enjoying a great time and only downer is the campground wifi stinks and cannot get online so will have to post this when I get home.  Need to get my own hotspot soon.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Star Date: 03242013 Sunday


Home again after a good time in St. Augustine.  Weather was perfect Thursday & Friday.  Trolley tour around the Historic Old City was time well spent.  Visited the Castillo de San Marcos dating to the 16th century.  Walked St Georges street and stocked up at the Pepper Palace which allowed me to receive free hot sauce for my “minimum” purchase.  Visited Flagler College to view the former Flagler Hotel architecture and stained glass windows.  Built by Henry Flagler in latter part of 19th century for the upper crust.  A magnificent structure.  Also spent an afternoon at the Lightner Museum which was designed as an entertainment hotel for the upper crust and anyone else who paid their 25 cents including the largest indoor pool in the US which is now utilized as a cafĂ© and antique mart.   The Lightner now houses many various “collections” from the guilded age such as self playing musical instruments which were demonstrated, glass, and even toasters.  The toaster collection was of special interest since it was the collection of the late Len Baer and donated by his wife and our good friend and neighbor, Doris Baer.  We had seen the collection when shown to us by Len so it was quite exciting to see it in a museum.   Dinner with the Rebels at Sunset Grill on the beach was so good that whenever we may return to St. Augustine, we will try to eat there.  Saturday was all day rain.  After the morning at the indoor outlet mall, we relaxed for an afternoon of reading in the coach.  Relaxing except for the golf ball size hail storm.  Fortunately, no damage to the coach or dinghy but the noise was akin to a shooting range so long run damage to ears is possible.  We headed for home Sunday and had to pass through another weather front.  Not much rain but plenty wind, gusting up to 50mph.  We thought we would make it home unscathed but it was not to be.  A gust hit us on the interstate and must have torqued the coach resulting in a cracked windshield.  Tomorrow will find out if insurance will cover it.  But regardless, a successful and fun trip.  And the dinghy got washed naturally, without squeegee!  It pays to procrastinate (and watch the weather forecast).

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Star Date: 03202013 Wednesday


After a rough couple months with Ro’s thyroid roller coaster and ablation, my Dad’s death and my 2 week cold, we finally get some r&r.  Today we arrived in St. Augustine for the Roll’N Rebels rally.  Arrival time about 4:00 so we were able to make “Happy Hour” with the rebels.  Many positive comments on the Tampa Bay Times article on Dad and much discussion of my folks 30 years of motorhome travels including the 17 footer for the 3 of us in England and Scotland.  The positive memories are beginning to outweigh the loss and lead to good feelings.  We all sang happy birthday to a red-faced Rosemary at the Happy Hour.  For dinner, just the 2 of us to celebrate the big b-day.  Of course, our first choice of restaurant was open every day but Wednesday which today is.  Second choice, La Pentola, was open and was very good.  Ro had duck a l’orange; veal osso buco for me.  Back to the Allegro for Aaron’s home made brownies, yum!  Everything is working fine except the brand new water softener which leaks at the hose in point and thus is unuseable.  Will address that when return to Tampa.  Tomorrow is later start than usual for the rebels (thank you, thank you), 10:00 am to depart for the trolley tour of historic St. Augustine.
We had Rebel rallies in December at LazyDays and in January at Bushnell.  Both were Friday to Sunday and lots of fun.  I did not blog about the shorter trips but, who knew, I have received requests to blog more as apparently I have a following.  Gosh, I guess I will have to be funnier in the future.  Oh no, that usually means mechanical failures!  Well it did rain while at dinner and the dinghy was parked under an oak tree and is now covered in oak tree sperm.  Tomorrow must squeegee the dinghy.

Star Date: 10192012 Thursday


We arrived yesterday at the Sun N Fun RV resort in Sarasota for a rally with the Roll’n Rebels chapter.  But first a stop in Bradenton to try to get our inverter fixed.  When we bought the coach, our inspector indicated that the inverter was putting out 158 volts not the normal 120.  This extra voltage could fry our appliances so we have not been using the inverter.  When we had the coach in the repair shop to install our new wiper arms (See star date 08262012), we had inverter checked and were also told output was 158 volts and that it must be shipped to an authorized Xantrex (manufacturer) dealer in Orlando at $1000 cost to fix.  Well at the Tiffin rally last week we met Bill from Bradenton who informed us there is an authorized Xantrex dealer in Bradenton which is 10 miles from Sun N Fun.  So we took off Thursday early to Jayton Electronics.  Jayton would repair the inverter for $500 but there is a catch.  Jayton will not remove inverter from coach nor reinstall it.  I knew this in advance and brought much lumber to build up to inverter which hangs from the chassis in the basement since it weighs about 50 lbs.  I got the inverter out, gave it to Jayton and went inside the coach to rest.  Jayton came out to us  shortly thereafter and said the good news is there is nothing wrong with our inverter.  The bad news is we took it out for nothing and good luck getting it back in.  I began by emptying the basement completely.  This allowed me to enter the basement to effect the repair laying on my back.  Prior to entering, I had placed the inverter on the top of an inverted recycling bin and raised the inverter one board at a time until it was within 1/2 inch from the bolts hanging down.  With some muscle and a little difficulty getting the nuts on the bolts in the tight space, mission accomplished.  Back on road to Sarasota.