Joe's Journeys

What Have I Done?

2012-01-27T09:17:00.000-06:00

We probably have 10 or so people that check the blog, evidently on a regular basis. They are mostly family. I have been severely chastised for NOT posting. Thinking of putting this post up, it dawned me that the more I post, the more people will read, and therefore more complaints when I lag behind in my
posting. I have created a monster, similar to the cookie monster.

We are currently in Clermont, FL and have been since late December. We had a second Christmas upon our arrival. Carolyn prepared a little poem that went with our new lifestyle. I know it's late, but read first paragraph.

Santa Didn't Come

(Our First RV Christmas)

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the coach,

Not a creature was stirring

not even a roach.

Our stockings were flung

on the floor by a chair,

In the hope that St Nicholas

would soon be there.

But, he didn't come...

he didn't show...

Why he didn't come,

we don't know.

We thought he had gotten

our change of address,

And would be able to find us

with his GPS.

So, next year it's going

to be our goal,

To camp a little closer

to the North Pole!!

It has been nice to spend this past month is central Florida. With temps in the 70's and 80's shorts has been the norm. Also, being here with no place to go or get back to has allowed for a laid back daily routine with the kids and grandkids. Involving ourselves with their daily lives and activities had been different for me. I always had to get back or be thinking of what was going on back at work. Very relaxing.

We had an AF1 braking system and Blue Ox base plate installed at Creative Coach in Lakeland. They did a great job and treated us well. After that we made it by Howard and Linda Payne of RV-Dreams to get weighed. They perform weighing of RV's for RVSEF. They were down for the Tampa Super Show and were just 20 miles down the road. I had wanted to get weighed to give the data I needed for life on the road.

Well little did I know I was operating unsafe. Our weights on the front axle and tires were over the rating and we were operating at to low an air pressure. On their recommendation we had the tires inspected at a Michelin dealer and found them OK and inflated to the correct pressures. At the show I talked with the Spartan rep and found Tiffin reps at the Lazy Days area. It appears there may be to much pressure being placed on the Tag axle putting pressure on the front axle. I will get this checked out, more when I find out.

As I said earlier, we have been just hanging out and learning more about the MH and getting together with family. We cooked Oysters three times with all getting their fill each time.

One of my goals is to eat my way across the country. We are on our way.

We will be leaving in a week or two to start our wandering trip to Sioux Falls, SD to obtain a driver's license and finalize our residency transfer. Maybe more will be happening in the future to prompt me to post more. Got to keep the fans happy.

Life is pretty good.

Jumping the TOC to head South

2012-01-02T17:23:00.001-06:00

Last Wednesday we loaded up to head south to the Orlando area. We felt like real fulltimers/RV'rs. Well, it wasn't long before I was faced with a newby problem. Although it hadn't rained, the moisture in the air had pooled on the slide covers. There was about 1/4" of ice on some of the covers. We had brought the covers in with two of the slides on the driver's side. I knew that would not fly, so out they went ever so slowly so as to watch and ensure I wasn't going to rip them off. With the sun and a little time, and sliding them in a little at a time, we had success.

We finally got underway with no visible damage. Our travels had several stops and about 9 PM we stopped at one of the Florida Rest Areas. Got to turn on the generator to get heat.

We made on down to Clermont, FL to Barry's driveway about noon. The boys and a couple of friends had cleared the road in front of his house of the neighbors low hanging limbs. There were a lot, but with the clearing of the road I was able to pull up and back straight in with no pull-ups. Note here, Barry is a lot better at directing than Carolyn, but she is learning. It helps when she stays in the mirror. We got some radios and that helps alot.

Barry had installed a 50 amp plug in, but we needed an extension. A trip to Home Depot got that done (and no I wasn't in charge of that). We are going to put in a sewer hookup to his clean out. It is nice to be here and just be around all of the kids coming and going. The small ones Landon and Christian got In-Line skates (with pads) and with the 75 deg days it was all hands outside. I even got on a pair (didn't get a picture of that). I didn't go far, ran out of Motorhome to hold onto. I was thinking what would happen if I fell and broke something, don't think Carolyn could do this by herself with me laid up.

Things are going to get a little cool down here the next two nights. Unlike other parts of the country, when the weather gets below freezing for more than 1.5 hours it damages the citrus crop. It becomes a major endeavor to keep the groves above freezing. Tomorrow night they are looking at between 6 to 9 hours below freezing.

That is about it for now.

Life is pretty good.

Christmas with Family

2011-12-27T21:58:00.000-06:00

We spent a nice week with the family in Guntersville, AL. We have finished sifting through what will fit into the Motorhome. Everybody has multiple places to go for Christmas, but through persistence we got the visits accomplished and everyone had a good time. It took two dinners to see everyone. Dinners were nice and we had way to much to eat as usual.

We stayed at a nice park just outside of town - Blue Heron. It is an owner owned lots. They rent back through the office as well as unsold units. $30.74/ $159/ $397.50 with a 10% Good Sam Discount.

Tomorrow we are headed to Clermont, FL to do it again. Hopefully, stay 6 to 8 weeks and see the sights.

Life is Good.

Our New Adventure

2011-12-12T21:34:00.000-06:00

After years of dreaming and following blogs of others venturing into this new lifestyle, our slow and deliberate steps finally have gotten us to the cliff.

We finally had a contract on August 7th after 17 months of the house being on the market. We had three weeks to get rid of everything. It was a most difficult task and emotions ran the gamut. We closed on August 31st and drove out of an empty house on September 3d.

We started looking for a Motorhome at that point. On November 16th at 9:25, we became the proud (and scared) owners of our new home on wheels. After returning home we started the process of moving what we hoped would fit into it. The first load showed we had to regroup. Three or four boxes at a time was all we could get into it and try and find a place for the things. Some wouldn't fit and had to go back to our storage units.

It took us three weeks, while I was working, to fill it up. One thing is for sure we will not go naked. There are closets and drawers of clothes in the coach and boxes of clothes in the basement.

I worked up until December 2d. We will be leaving the area this weekend spending time in Guntersville, AL and then heading to the Orlando area after Christmas.

I will be updating the blog several times a month or as interesting things take place.

It is now time for the dreams to come true.