Joe's Journeys

An Enjoyable Week In Cedar Key

2012-02-17T17:09:00.001-06:00

After only two days here, we extended our stay a week. Large sites, quiet park, and only 7 miles from town make it inviting. The downtown area is only about 1/2 mile square. There are no traffic lights and the boardwalk street is only about 1 block long. Below is a picture of the waterfront restaurants and hotels.

There are several places to go walk and hike, but it is the sunsets that are nice.

These shots were one afternoon, usually we left the camera or it was to cloudy, but still a pleasant walk and view.

We have met many nice people that are on this journey with us. There is an instant connection that can turn into long discussions of places to go and things to see. Very cool.

We did have a crisis situation that took a lot of my time. 5 - 10 minutes a day, mostly thinking. We had lost or misplaced the TV remote for the bedroom Dish Receiver. Now we still had the main box, but it did cause great anxiety as that is the one that Carolyn watches her shows on. If we didn't locate it she was going to be invading my turf so it was top priority to find it. It couldn't have gone far in only 400 sq ft and most of that packed to the gills. (got to work on that) Low and behold, the nightstand drawer pulls out about 2 ft and it was in the very back of that drawer, almost like someone put it there. The only thing we could think of was that during travel the drawer came open and the remote slide into it. Note to self, lock remotes up during relocation.

Below are a few pictures of surrounding neighbors in the park. Note it is less crowded than the previous place.

Been all I can be, got all I can get, now it's time to be me (us)

Life is real good...

An Easy Week

2012-02-16T13:50:00.000-06:00

Well a lot has happened in the last week and then not much.

Last Friday, on the second trip, we finally got the light installed on our truck to let us know if the AF1 is working or not. They (Creative Coach, Lakeland) did not install it back on the 9th of January. After reading other blogs where people were having difficulties seeing the light, I got to looking for mine. Looked under the hood, the dash, the seat, behind the grill and no light or anything resembling one. Hmm! Looked in the literature and all of the parts they gave me back and there wasn't one there. The packing slip showed they sent one.

Called Creative Coach and they indicated that my vehicle didn't need one as it had a negative switch, at least that is what I heard, and they had given me back all of the parts. I advised them I had looked through everything and didn't have any light kit. Just didn't sound right so I called SMI and talked with Pete. Good ole Pete said well they (CC) were supposed to do something different in my case. A pressure switch that could be obtained locally at any NAPA could be installed and then the light would work as designed.

Long story short, after two weeks of scratching their head, we had it installed last Friday. I feel better whether I can see it or not. If not maybe I can get Carolyn to ride back there with a radio and she can tell me when it goes off. :)

New story, when we were ready to leave CC I called Cedar Key Resort in Cedar Key to ensure we had a spot. After all it was our first real trip other than to go and see family. Whoa! To my surprise they were full. (Fellow blogger Janna and Mike of Tin TeePee-Log Cabin) had talked them up, and the way I read it they would have openings. Well, with great urgency I dug out the books we had bought and had received from the Clubs. I called Sunset Isle, Cedar Key. They had one site that we could fit into, I jumped on it.

When we arrived I filled up the pull up, went and signed in and proceeded to unhook the truck. Then the truck would not come out of Neutral. Panic Time. We finally pushed it to the side and I went to the site (remember I was blocking the entrance). I had to drive the whole park to get to my site and then barely fit. I missed picnic tables, vehicles, and power poles by mere inches. As you know I've only been in two parks before this. Set up, I went back to the truck to work on it. (had printed a sheet word for word out of the manual to go by). Contrary to what the book said, when it was running, it went into gear. Okay, life is back to normal. Below are pictures out of the coach of how close it was.

Before going to dinner, we went to Cedar Key Resort to try and beg our way in. They were full. :( After saying that some people we knew Mike and Janna (not really Pink MH) had been here and they really liked it, well the pearly gates opened. If your friends with Mike and Janna let me see. (I had commented on their blog and they had responded to mine. That kind of makes us buddies:) )

So here we sit in Cedar Key RV Resort, Cedar Key, FL

Been All I Can Be, Got All I Can Get, Now It's Time For Me (US)

Life is real good!

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.