Paradise Oaks!!

Friday 28 December 2018 

    Finally a day without traveling.  We spent the day doing some much needed organizing and reorganizing.  Diane switched out winter clothes for summer clothes and I tried to find some of my

tools. We did go into Starke for lunch and we ate at the 'Downtown Grill' and you just got to love their sign. We both had their Cesar salad mine with shrimp Diane's with blackened chicken.   A quick stop at the grocery store and back home.  We had packed up the outside things (grill, chairs etc), which was good as it was raining by early evening.  Diane made a nice rice dish for dinner and then we continued packing for the move tomorrow.

Saturday 29 December 2018

   Woke up to the pitter patter of rain on our camper.  I checked the weather and rain should end between 9 and 10 am.  So we had breakfast took our time packing and waited for the rain to stop.  At eleven we packed up and hooked up in the rain.  Shirt wet, shoes and socks wet just a miserable morning.  We finally pulled out around noon heading to Bushnell a 110 mile drive. It rained on and off until we got to Ocala then the sun came out and by the time we parked it was 85 sunny and very humid.  By the time we had set up our clothes were wet from sweat, but we won't complain.  Several friends came by to say high 'Hi' and chit chat, it was nice to see them.  We are so ready to stay parked for a week.

Sunday 30 December 2018

     Very foggy and humid this morning, it looked like it rained but it was just a heavy dew.  French toast and sausage cooked on the grill this morning, yum   I took Rudy for a walk and meet Mike and

Our Site for the Week!!

Cheri on their way to visit us. We sat and visited until almost lunch. Not long after that Shari, Matt and two kids came over for a visit and get a schedule of their week long whirl wind visit.  Having just arrived from Colorado they wanted to set outside despite the high temperature. They left around 2:30 we headed of to the grocery store, returned and went for a walk around the park.  We ran into Glen and Vicki and sat to visit with them for a hour or so.  Rudy was so happy since they are non dog owners but keep treats around for visiting dogs.  Back home steaks, mushrooms and baked potatoes for dinner.  It was good to see and visit friends and family. 

On the Road Again!!

Monday 24 December 2018

   We are on road!! Yeah.  Pulled out this morning at 9:30 but stopped at the office to pay and get both propane tanks filled.  We actually left the camp ground at 10:15.  An uneventful ride to Walnut Hills campgrounds, good news though they are no longer a KOA Campground and their rates have dropped. Miles traveled 227  Leaving temp 40 - parked temp 45.

Walnut Hills CG

Tuesday 25 December 2018

    Merry Christmas to all!!  Woke up this morning took Rudy out before coffee and thought for a second I saw Santa Claus and he is living in a camper.  The truck was all hooked up and just electric to unhook so we were able to hit the road early,  NO.. it was still 10am until we left.  No matter how hard we try it is 10am.  Another nice day for traveling almost no traffic as we headed to Statesville NC.  I foolishly let the fuel drop below a quarter tank so a big ouch when we filled up, almost 80 gallons.  Miles traveled 231  Leaving temp 35 - parked temp 53.

   Santa at Walnut Hills.                            

                                                                                Statesville KOA.

                             Wednesday 26 December 2018

    Well we were able to get on the road by 9:30.  Today was eventful for travel.  To show you want happens when we leave early the GPS had us arriving 1:15 when we first hit the road.  We pulled into the Yemassee, KOA  just before 4pm.  The traffic on I 26 and I 95 was terrible with rolling traffic jams, a few accidents and lots of rubber necking.  We were just wore out from the trip put did manage to do burgers on the grill as temperature was 66 when we parked.  Water is just everywhere here, left over from the hurricane and snow storm.   Six plus hours to go 227 miles.  Leaving temp 39 - parked temp 66.

Thursday 27 December 2018

    We made to Florida.  We rolled out at....10am.  I 95 was backed up as we were getting on the on ramp.  Another stop and go day with minor accidents.   We rolled into Camp Blanding about 3:30 but at least the traffic was not as bad as yesterday.  We stopped for fuel and had a nice lunch at Denny's (as good as Denny's gets).  We had sausages from Schmidt's cooked on the grill for dinner, YUM.  Another hard day 218 miles.  Leaving temp 50 - parked temp 75  ahhhh.

Camp Blanding,

Florida at last!!

Moho Finished

December 19, 2018

I was up by 6:15, a cup of coffee and then a shower.  We were out of the Moho by 8:00.....forgetting one little thing, I'll explain later.  We had bagels for breakfast, so the three of us (Rudy was with us) headed out to Pier 1 to look at chairs but it didn't open until 9:00, so we stopped at McDonald's for

Some neat covered 

Bridges in MD.

the worse cup of coffee, then over to Marshalls, finally 9:00 rolls around and back to Pier 1.  No luck, they didn't have the same chairs as Harrisburg but we also checked out Home Goods, but no chairs there.  From there we head back to Beckley's, Moho is in the shop, but we parked and walked around with Rudy outside and in Tractor Supply.  Back in the truck and some more driving around, up to the Beckley's RV Sales where we found a Campers Log refill, and step rugs.  Some more sight seeing, a stop for and early lunch then back to the repair shop.  Another 1-1.5 hours of work, so off we go again.  We headed up to the Catoctin Furnace and a Jeep sales shop, did some walking and by now an hour had passed so back to Beckley's.....the Moho is finished.  I headed in to pay while Brad connected the truck, yes it all works.  So back to Hbg. we head, but first we stopped at a new Rutter's off 15 to disconnect the truck so I can go to Warrington's Meat Market.  Brad continued on his way while I stopped and shopped.  $200.00 later I'm heading home and get there just in time to put out the slides and clean up the mess, from my earlier mention.  Some how we left a candle burning in

Some of the Candle mess.

the bathroom so when we pulled out it fell into the bathroom sink and we had melted wax all over the place(and I mean all over).....what a mess wall, door, and sink.

December 20, 2018

Thursday, Brad got up and worked on some things around the Moho, while I cleaned up and made plans for the day.  We got ready and headed out, first stop the EZ-Pass Customer Office to fill out the paper work required to get an EZ-Pass for the Moho, a quick lunch,  over to Pier 1, a stop at another furniture store, then back to the EZ-Pass office to pick up the EZ-Pass.  Back home a walk or two for Rudy then we waited for Lynne and Rick to come over for a visit.  A quick tour of the Moho then off to Gilligan's for dinner, it was a nice evening.  After dinner back home, a glass of wine, then off to bed, another busy day scheduled for tomorrow.  

December 21, 2018

We were up and I was off to the grocery store, while Brad headed up to the Laundromat.  He finished then laundry and puttered around the Moho until I got back.  We put the food and Laundry put away then off to see Doug to discuss some finance options.  Back home and we only have an hour or two before we head out to dinner with Mike and Karen.  We went to the Lancaster Brewing Co., had a nice meal and a nice evening.  Back home, then off to bed for another busy day tomorrow. 

December 22, 2018

We are up ready to head out for the Angeli sister Christmas dinner.  We headed out about 10:00 so we could get to Lynne and Rick's a little early.  Everybody else showed up about 11:30, so about

Family!!

12:00 we have the gift exchange.  After that we started the Chicken and Waffles and then had about a 2 hour food fest. After dinner Rick made is famous 'Winter White Cosmos' and quite a few were made.  A little before 3:00 Chris headed out with the kids to drop them off with George, but she was  just before 3:30.  After that the adults started playing 'Cards against Humanity', 'til we were finished playing my side hurt from laughing so much.  Shortly after that everybody left, but Brad and I hung out to help Lynne clean up some of the mess that was made during the day. A really great day with friends and family.  We headed home, had a glass of wine and off to bed, another busy day tomorrow.

December 23, 2018

We were up this morning and out the door at 9:50....running a bit late to get to Mel's, but we made it.  A nice breakfast with the family then the gift exchange, a short visit then we were on the road again.  First a stop to look at a house that's for sale, off to the grocery store and then we head home. Brad cleaned up and packed the outside stuff at the Moho, filled and dumped tanks while I did laundry and vacuumed the camper.  I reorganized and put away Christmas gifts and just as the laundry was finished Morgan texted saying she would be here in about 45 min.  She stopped in and faced time with Shane while we opened our gifts and Morgan opened hers.  His and theirs would wait until he comes home.  She did manage to bring a gift for me that wasn't mine and we did have a good laugh about that, so plans are made for Brad to go pick up my gift in the morning    She stayed for a while and we chatted, then she headed home, we ate dinner and now I am finishing the blog for our stay here in Harrisburg.  Tomorrow is the big day, we are hitting the road heading south.  We will miss the family so much as we head south, it was hard to say good bye but we will all be back together next year.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Getting ready..one more step closer

Sunday Dec 16, 2018

  I made breakfast, then Brad cleaned up the outside of the camper.  I then headed over to Lynne's to drop off some coats for storage and met Brad at LB Smith's for recall work on the truck to be done on Monday.  We stopped and ate at the Lemoyne Dinner then headed over to an old friends house, Charlie Lambert. We hadn't seen him since I retired in 2003, so it was a nice visit and catch up.  We need to get together more often.  Back home, dinner and Brad was in bed by 9:30.

Monday December 17, 2018

Karen stopped over this morning while Brad was outside working, I had some things for Aly she was picking up.  She left and we headed up to the laundromat, then headed off to lunch at the Pizza Shop

Molly came for a visit 

with Karen

in front of the campground.  Back to the laundromat to go from the washer to dryer, then over to LB Smith to pick up the truck.  I headed back home, but stopped at the sausage shop on my way.  I got a few things, but it is more of a Kielbasi  and specialized sausage (blood sausage, uncured bacon) shop.....not what I expected.  I got back home, got the laundry while talking to the neighbor, him and his wife just sold their home and started full timing (how funny).  Back home and we all headed out again, Brad and Rudy headed over to the storage unit and to visit Norm and Pat and I to drop off something at Karen's and finish the Christmas Shopping.  I got home and finished the wrapping and of course Brad showed up just as I was done. We had left overs for dinner and again Brad was in bed by 9:00.

Tuesday December 18, 2018.

Ok, here we go again.  Up for a quick breakfast, Brad finished packing up the outside while I worked on the inside.  About 11:30 we headed over to drop off the rental car, stopped to drop of some donations, then off to pick up lunch at Chick-fil-A.  Home to eat lunch, then I headed out to the grocery store, while Brad finished the last of the Moho, disconnection then off we go to Beckley's for some work.  We need the air brake line run from the Moho for the Truck so there is no more driving separate vehicles.  We get to Beckley's a little after 2:00, parked and settled in by 3:00 then off for an hour walk...we all needed that.  Back to the Moho, a few more phone calls made, showers and dinner. Brad was in bed by 9:00, me at 10:00....6:00 AM comes awful early for me.  

Moving one last time!! (ha ha)

Thursday 13 December 2018

    We finished breakfast around 9am and I packed up and headed to Tioga county to clean out the storage unit. I was just rolling into Williamsport when I noticed thick fog ahead of me.  I slowed down but the fog turned out to be snow, like a white out snow.  It only lasted 15 minutes but the ground had a good half inch covering.  As I headed up Steam Valley the cinder trucks had already

Creative packing

been out and the road produced that fine mist of salt, slop and grit.  I picked up the u-haul in Mansfield and made it to the storage unit by 3pm.  In a light rain I packed the trailer, then the truck bed, then the cab and the last item tied on.  For a time a didn't think it would all fit but as the mud got deeper, the rain picked up and the temperature dropped, I got more creative and carefully packed(crammed) the last of it in.  Even with poor phone service I finally contacted Kate and Tony.  They picked me pick me up and we went to the VFW for wings.

Friday 14 December 2018

    Kate drove me back to the storage unit around 10am.  I swept out the storage unit, checked out at the office and was on the road by 11:30.  As I drove from Westfield thru Little Marsh/Middlebury Center I really felt like it would be the last time, kind of sad.  Again a steady mist/rain and fog made for a slow miserable drive back.  I arrived in

OK, now it's jammed in.

Dillsburg at 3:30.  Diane met me there and we called Mel and Pere for extra help.  It was after 6pm until we finished unpacking and the truck was still full of stuff.  I returned the trailer and we got back home by 7.  Fish sticks for dinner and a early night for us.

Saturday 15 December

    I unpacked the truck re-arranged the storage bins trying to find a home for all the stuff.  Didn't work.  We still had three large bins to take back to storage unit and a few boxes to drop at Shane's. The highlight of the day was lunch with Bev at TJ Rockwells.  The food was good, as always including the bowl of cream of crab soup I had.  We went to the storage unit to find room for the last of our items and we did.   I guess I'll get smarter as I get older..... but someone that is lactose intolerant should not eat creamy soup!  I'll just say in the middle of rearranging the storage unit I had to leave.  We finally fit everything in and made it home around 5pm.  Grilled cheese for dinner as my body recovers.

More time in Harrisburg

Tuesday 11 December 2018

     Today just flew by as we made phone calls, scheduled appointments, changed a few addresses, got propane(small tank) and did some running around.  We have 12 days before we hope to leave and already have six days scheduled full.  And just as all RVer's know when you are the busiest stuff goes wrong.  Today as Diane was getting out of the shower I noticed water leaking from around the shower door and across the floor.  We cleaned that up and I hope to take it apart tonight so it can dry and I'll caulk and reassemble tomorrow before we pick up the renal car at noon and go to dinner with Lynne and Rick.  Just as we were heading off to bed we ran out of water so I got the hose out, hooked it up, filled up tank, drained hose and put it away at 9:30 pm (in the dark).  Around 11:30pm Diane came in said we were out of propane(big tank).  I got up, dressed, went out changed tanks, back inside undressed and back to bed. Woke up at 4:30 cold!  I don't know what happened furnaces were not running and inside temp was 55.  I reset the furnaces (turned them off and back on) and everything was working good.  Back to bed for the rest of the night (morning).

Wednesday 12 December 2018

     What a nice day today sunny and 40 degrees.  I did get the shower door off yesterday so after

Rental Car

breakfast I went right to work on that.  First thing was finding my caulking and cleaning out the end of the tube......1 1/2 hours later went to hardware store for new.  We fixed the shower door including several attempts to reassemble the panels.  Next was a propane run, trash, 

laundromat, dump tanks, picked up rental car.  Diane headed off to the public shower(should have seen her face)we have to use the shower house until the caulking cures. I need to pack overnight bag to head up north tomorrow to clean out our storage unit.  Then back down and unload it on Friday.

Diane heading back from the shower house

The second week of Deer Camp

Monday December 10, 2018

     The end of deer season for 2018 no buck for us.  We headed to Tioga county for the second week of deer season on Monday the 3rd. Just as we were getting ready to leave I hooked up the 100lb tank of propane, turned it on and liquid propane began dripping from our new 10 ft. hose.  So.....down to the RV store trading my gas line for a new one.  Once again it only set us back a few hours but the anxiety level was screaming off the chart. We arrived  at our friends (Kate & Tony's) place around 5pm some 3 or 4 hours late.  We hunted for 5 days without seeing a buck.  It was unusually cold and windy.  Hunting was limited to a few hours at clip or walking slowly hoping to find one out feeding.  We had a good time anyway reminiscing,  VFW for wings and just enjoying time with old friends.  

Rudy's new perch!!

      We returned to the Moho Sunday around 4pm. and everything was good, put the slides out, turned the heat up and we were back in business.  Rudy quickly returned to his post of protecting the Moho.

Rudy going on Alert!!

We have a very busy schedule the two weeks ahead of us. Today we got a storage unit in Dillsburg,  went to the credit union,  grocery store, and made reservation for a U-haul to bring stuff down from up north.  We need to get the truck in for a recall,  the Moho to Maryland for towed vehicle brake line installation,  pick up a rental car for Diane and get some shopping done for Christmas.

      

We are still hoping  to be on the road heading south on December 24th.  We are doing well here but I don't care what the salesmen say, these units are not made for winter. Our furnace works good and we have the heat set a 70.  Our heads are warm but our feet are cooool.   Can't wait to have shorts and flip flops on.

A Weekend with the Great-grand kids

Friday 30 November 2018

     We were up and out of the Moho about 9:30.  We stopped at the office to get a 100lb. propane tank delivered, off to the CU to do some banking, then to Mel's to drop off our bikes, bike rack and a box or 2 of things we had for her, a quick stop at Morgan and Shane's to drop off the Adirondack Chairs he got, then back to the Moho to drop of Rudy.  We put Rudy in his kennel then headed over to  Gilligan's for a nice, relaxing lunch (very enjoyable).  OK enough relaxing, Brad dropped me of at the Moho to get Rudy and start packing, while he ran to Etnoyer's for a longer hose for the propane tank. He got back and we finished packing, loaded up the truck and headed over to Mel's, they plan on leaving around 5:00 PM.  We stopped for some wine and pretzels, got to Mel's about 4:00, unloaded and started the waiting game.  Pere didn't get  home until 6:00, so it was 6:30 until they got on the road, by then we had all the kids fed and it was time to watch a little TV, then get the kids off to bed about 8:00.  Brad and I lasted until about 10:00 but knew we had a long day tomorrow. 

Saturday 1 December 2018

     I was up a 6:30 and the kids all followed shortly thereafter.  Diane made cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  I choked down a few and headed out to take the truck in to get fixed.  Bev picked pick me

Glad the game room is

in the basement. 

up and brought me directly home.  Diane warned us not to stop anywhere for anything for any reason as she was tending to the four kids.  The truck was done around 3pm.  Bev pick me up again and we were back by 4pm. The weather was warm but rained all afternoon so we had to stay inside.  We had grilled cheese and soup for dinner.  And by 8 the kids were off to bed again.  Now they were pretty good other than the occasional  picking, fighting and arguing.  More fun to be had by one and all tomorrow.

Sunday 2 December 2018

     Hurrah,  having served our time we should be set free around 7pm.  Diane made pancakes and bacon for breakfast so good.  We were all a little more relaxed today even Rudy came out from under the table and laid on the sofa with Cianna.  It is warm today in the mid 50's but cloudy and everything is still wet from the rain yesterday.  Karter had a marshmallow sandwich for lunch. Diane folded the sandwich in half. Karter unfolded it the best he could and ate it from the center out.  Words will not do it justice but I will try.  He had white sticky marshmallow  all around his mouth with two small streaks going toward each ear, a little like the joker on batman.  After cleaning the kids up it was nap time and we started packing up the truck.  Bake ham, buttered noodles and green beans for supper as we wait very very patiently for the parents to return. 

Week Two

Sunday 25 November 2018

     Temps are in the 30's.  we headed to storage unit to pick up hunting gear, then over to Norman's property to do a little scouting.  Drove into Wellsboro to purchase some supplies(cheese and bologna) for opening day, then back to the Moho to sort clothes and make final arrangements for tomorrow.  We are planning to go out even though they are calling for rain.

Monday 26 November 2018

      3:30 woke up cold we were out of propane!  I got up dressed and went out to change propane tanks and back in.  Now it is 3:45 alarm was set for 4:30 so I just stayed up.  The good news no rain.  Diane decided to sleep in and I got ready to head out.  Arrived at Norman's at six and the rain started and seven.  I last until 8:30 but the steady cold rain did me in.  I headed home and Diane and Rudy were actually up.  I got changed and warmed up, had something to eat the headed over to check on the Ochenrider crew.  We pulled in just as Andy (Glen's step-son) was tracking Tony's buck, a nice 8 point.  They gathered that up and headed to the house to hang it up.  A few minutes after it was hung, Glen and Andy headed back out, rain, wind and cold wasn't keeping them in.  We left shortly after they headed out, went home and got a text  about 6:30 that Glen got a nice 6 point.  Andy had shot at it, missed and it went right up to where Glen as sitting.  Off to bed as Brad is going hunting in the Morning and I am heading to the Ochenriders with him (at 5:30 AM.....ugh)  

Tuesday 27 November 2018

     I dropped Brad off at Norman's hill about 6:15 then headed over to the Ochenrider house.  Tony and Glen were up and Andy was out hunting.  It was very cold and windy, so about 8:00 I headed back down to check on Brad.  He lucked out, where he was sitting he was pretty well protected from the wind, so he stayed out and I was to head back down about 9:30 to pick him up.  We both headed back to the Och camp and as Kate was working on breakfast, about 6-8 doe were heading down through the back gutter.  Andy was out front, but as he headed in he had seen them and was scoping them out as we looked out.  He turned after that only to see 4 more doe cross the food plot, so he pulled up a chair and hung out on the front porch until he was called in for breakfast.  After that it was packing for Glen and Andy, loading up the truck and then backing to the meat pole to load up the buck.  Glen got them loaded and tied down, good-byes were said, and as he tried to pull out, he sank in the soft ground....stuck.  Brad got his truck to pull him out, took 2 different chains, Kate to move

Our First Full-timing Camp Site

her car and about 30 min, but they got him out and he headed home.  Brad headed out for the evening hunt, I helped Kate get some laundry done, no luck for Brad, so we headed home when he got in.  Hung up the hunting stuff to dry and tomorrow.

Wednesday 28 November 2018

     No more hunting this week. We left around 9am over to rent a trailer and return all the hunting stuff to the storage unit.  Back to Don and Bonnie's to loaded up the four wheeler and Walker mower for delivery to Coudersport.  It was cold and wind blew across that hill top like crazy.  The trailer was a piece of crap, and I had to shovel snow off of it,  tie down hooks were bent, ramp was busted up and the lights didn't work.  But after an hour we were on our way.  Over to Coudersport and back with a lunch stop, post office stop, wine stop and gas stop. Returned the trailer and made to the camper around 4pm. and yes we had Rudy with us.  We started packing for our trip to Harrisburg tomorrow.

Thursday 29 November 2018

      Despite packing some last night we still did not get moving until 11am.  It was cold and windy with a few passing snow flurries.  I don't know why but the 3 hour drive took 5 hours.  We arrived at the campground after 4pm. Filled up propane tanks the first site was to uneven so we moved and ended up setting up after dark. Diane drove the truck and each time she hit the brakes or used the turn signals the dashboard would flash and ding oil change required/ trailer wire failure. Needless to say happy hour was late but very much enjoyed.