Looks Like A Busy September

I've just been advised (consulted actually) about another upcoming trip with good friends of ours. This one is to Ginnie Springs, which is on the Santa Fe River in High Springs, FL. We're scheduled to leave on 9/12 which is only about 10 days after we return from the Tamoka trip. Sheesh! No rest for the wicked I guess.
So much driving - so little time.

So I'll try to get a blog out (with pics of course) between trips.

Somewhere either before the first trip or after the second, I need to get the camper in for some warranty work. The top of the front cap has developed some oxidation in the gel coat. It just looked like some discoloration from rain run-off, but wouldn't come off after a wash/wax. I contacted Keystone and the dealer - Palm Beach RV and kudos to both of them. Even though the camper is now out of warranty, they have agreed to strip and repaint the front cap! No arguments, no badgering, no problem. Scott at Palm Beach RV was extremely helpful with the process. That's customer service the way it should be.

I'll post the outcome of the new paint.

Maybe Next Year

Each year Barb and I go to Maine to visit family. Most of both of our families, including grandkids, still live there. We fly to Boston, rent a car and drive to Maine. Barb starts early in the year searching for a place on a lake somewhere near civilization that we can rent for a week. So far, she's done pretty well. Everyone likes to come out to the lake in summah!

This year in particular we had some great family time and I found myself pining for that type of closeness. Those of you who know me, know that I couldn't wait to get outta Maine and go where it's warm. I absolutely despised winter up in the frozen tundra (still do). So, before anyone thinks I've lost the plot, we're not moving back!

But...

Maybe next year we can spend a month instead of a week. We just need to figure out the logistics. We couldn't afford to rent on a lake for that length of time and staying with family that long may not be a good idea for anyone. Dragging the camper up there may be an option, but dragging that box 1700 miles doesn't exactly blow my skirt up, although that much time with the directions of the nagigator should give me a lot to blog about. Maybe in a few years we can trade up to something a little easier to travel with. No, not the nagigator - the camper. At least we have 11 months to research.

Next on the Agenda

My wife, CFO, travel planner and nagigator (no, that's not a misspelling, but it is fodder for future posts), has planned a trip to Tomoka State Park over Labor Day weekend. Where the hell is that you ask? I have no clue, but I'm sure when the time comes, my nagigation system will lead me there.

We're not bringing the Harley this trip for a couple of reasons:

1. It's still too damn hot (even up there) in September to ride. Age makes you wimpy.


2. This is our first trip to this park and we've heard that the sites are narrow. Our trailer has a side load garage and it's difficult enough to get an 800 lb. motorcycle in and out of that thing even with plenty of room - so it stays home. If once we're there, the sites look wide enough, we'll bring it next time.

What we are bringing on this trip is THE CAT! We figured that is wasn't fair to leave him home all the time while the dog was off gallivanting  and having all the fun. He always seemed pissed off when we came back home. Maybe he'll keep our neurotic dog company in the camper when we go off exploring. He'll either calm the dog down or we'll have 2 neurotic animals. We'll see.

Leaving again?

Side note: I'll never buy a side load toy hauler again, ever! When we upgrade to a drive-able RV, there's a nifty lift that bolts on the back frame of the bus. Ride onto the platform at ground level, strap er down, hit the button and the winch raises er up. Easy peasy! You can drag a car behind you as well. I love ingenuity!

The Beginning

As it turns out, I have a fair amount of time on my hands now that I'm semi-retired ( that sounds a heck of a lot better than unemployed ). Luckily my wife Barb still has a paying gig that keeps us afloat. I guess that makes me a kept man! Anyhow, I've decided to put some of that "spare" time to use.

One of our favorite things to do is go camping. Well, at first it was camping; tents, sleeping bags, the lot. Now as time progresses, we are no longer ground dwellers and have moved up to RV'ing. Woo hoo!

With all the aforementioned "spare" time comes a wandering mind. Thoughts like  - what can we do next? - where can we go? - can we do it cheaply?, pop in and out. We've been to a few state parks in Florida, sites in the Keys and other places throughout the state. At some point in the near future, we're hoping to upgrade to a drive-able RV and explore the country. Soooo, I've decided to write about our travels and escapades along the way as well as some day to day stuff. After all, we do have a web-store that sells camping and outdoor stuff.

This blog will hopefully help expose our store to the masses and quite possibly earn some beer money along the way (that is if anyone out there cares to read all this drivel).

And so it begins...