Time at Camp Blanding!!

Thursday 23  January 2020

  Today we made our last trip to the Restore store.  It all started the second day we were here about two weeks ago.  On the way to the walk in clinic we stopped at the Restore, and to our surprise everything was 50% off we found a nice picture and bowl set for $75, a nice board for a shelf in the closet and of course we didn't buy anything.  Days later we stopped in and they were closed.  Days after that we stopped in they were closed for remolding, sign said they would open Tuesday.  We went back Tuesday and that was scratched off and they would open on Wednesday.  We went back Wednesday and they were open. YEA!  We went in and everything is back to full price and we found the board we wanted but it wasn't priced.  The attendant priced it at $10.  Well I wasn't paying ten dollars for a used board.  So we went to Lowes and priced it, $40.00.  So we had lunch then went back to the Restore to get the board,  it was gone.  So we looked at the picture and bowl set, back up to $150.  Since I was to cheap to spend ten dollars we left with nothing and still needing a board.

Friday 24 January 2020

   We finally got to have lunch with Gabe after two failed attempts that he couldn't make.  We were suppose to go to Randy"s Rib Shack but Gabe's car was in the shop so we meet him at Bonefish in Gainesville.  We were surprised to see they were open for lunch.  The food was great as usual and

getting to talk with Gabe for a couple of hours was the big event.  Turned out to be a cool rainy/windy day so it was good we didn't go to the Rib Shack outside dinning only.  We stopped for propane,  then at a thrift store(dirty and junky) and at a lumber store to look for shelving(nothing) and return home around 5:00.  Just snacks for dinner.  Got a nice fire cooking and just sat outside.

Saturday 25 January 2020

   Sunny/breeze but warmed up to 65 degrees.  We were up and moving early, we were to be at Jack and Sandi's at 11am.  Well we were a little late leaving, stopped at office to pick up packages and stopped for wine in Starke.  Long story longer we were about 30 min. late.  We all had a good time.  We met Jack and Sandi in Minnesota last  year and turns out they are spending the winter just about a hour south of here.  We took a tour of the park which has a very nice golf course, a restaurant on site and all the normal games pickle ball, bocce ball, tennis and a few others. Jack made a pork roast in his Egg smoker and it was great.  We visited until dark then headed home Rudy spent all afternoon playing with their dog Joey and as soon as he got in the truck he was out.

Sunday 26 January

Our stash of fire wood!!

  Today was kind of a R&R day.

Monday 27 January 2020

   Another day spent on the search for tires I was determined to pick something and bring this to an end.  After several more hours we were done, Michelins are to be installed next week in Bushnell or so we are hoping. By now I was frustrated so I washed and waxed a section of motorhome.  Diane did laundry went to the store.

Holy Crap Batman it is cold !

Sunday 19 January 2020

   Woke up to that familiar pitter patter on the roof.   As you can imagine Rudy stayed in bed until a break in rain around 10am.  The rain continued on and off all day.  We went to town mostly for something to do.  First was the drug store then the grocery store then a drive around town stopped at Norman's Produce for some fresh strawberries.  Back to the camper as the rain let up, so Diane decided to go for a walk.  She was just about done with her walk when the rain started coming down fairly steady.  I drove around looking for her but she had ducked into a pavilion for cover.  As it turned out she was very close to the Moho and walked back as I drove around the base looking for her.  Finally she called me to let me know she was home,  all ended well.  We were both home safe and not so dry. Rudy was a little upset because he got wet walking to and from the truck.  The rain

Even on the gray days

it's still a beautiful view!!

quit and I grilled Hog Maw sausages on the grill and shortly there after Rudy forgot he was mad.

Monday 20 January 2020

   Up this morning to much cooler temps.  38 when Rudy and I went for our walk.  I guess we were liking those 60 degree morning.  After a quick breakfast, load of laundry washed, hung outside, shower scrubbed and showers we were on our way to town.  First was the all important stop for lunch.  A place called Crabby Ben's the food was very good I had grilled shrimp and Diane had blackened fish sandwich.   The restaurant itself was not so nice, looked like an old fast food place about half fixed up and in a poorer section of town, but the food was really good but I don't think we will go back.  Next we went to see an older Moho for sale..... pictures made it look not so bad on the internet but in real life it was bad we were in and out in less than 5 minutes.  We stopped at a picture framing place and stopped at the Restore store to pick up a shelf we saw earlier and as our luck goes it was closed.

Back home I went for a bike ride(into a strong wind) while Diane took down laundry and walked Rudy. Leftovers for dinner and we called it a day.

Tuesday 21 January 2020

   After two weeks of temps in the high 70's even low 80's reality settles back in.  It was 30 when Rudy and went for a walk this morning and I had to drag him down the steps.  Very strong wind

Mackie's Munchies....

Great Food!!

today, the bikes blew over and there was little stuff blowing all around the campground.  We head back to the Restore store and guess what a little hand written note on the gate says 'Brad and Diane we are closed again today' open tomorrow.  Well it wasn't addressed to us but it is starting to seem like it.  So we went to two more thrift stores and an antique store.  Made a few purchases before heading across the street to Mackie's Munchie's for lunch. Another hole in wall at a strip mall but food was great. I had "Effin Jambalaya" (Etouffee and Jambalaya mixed) and Diane had Crawfish Etouffee.  We stopped at Lowe's on the way back for a new grill and made it back by 3:30.   A long walk for Diane and tonight I got Rudy duty.   Looks like a salad with leftover chicken on it for dinner.

Wednesday 22 January 2020

    A little warmer this morning in the 40's but still very windy.    What a change in the weather I want our 70 plus degree days back. Today I had one job and that was to research and schedule to get new tires for the RV.  While I did that Diane went to town,  Ace hardware, Bealls clothing, grocery store

A Lotus shopping at Auto Zone,

it was just sooooo wrong!! 

and wine store.  Diane returned and I was still working on the tires with no end in sight.  She took her walk came back walked Rudy then made meatloaf and all the fixing for dinner and it was great.  I ate to much.  In end we went to bed with full bellies but no tires for the RV.

2019 Budget summary

    A lot of people ask how much full timing cost. Well here it is for us.  Cost can vary widely depending on your life style.  We only spent $600 a month for dinning out and entertainment.  Some people spend much less and some much more, this is our budget and we had fun.

We camped 365 nights for $11,669.01 with and average $32 per night.  No boondocking*

We traveled 10,099 miles spent $3,871.49 for fuel or $.32 per mile.*

Propane cost for the year was $805*

RV insurance $2188 or $182 a month.*

We spent a lot on repairs this year.  Some were our choice for upgrades and rest just repairs.
We upgraded the on demand water heater about $1900.  Also upgraded shocks and added a steering stabilizer for another $650.  The rest some $10,009.00 was for repairs or maintenance our warranty covered about half of that so we were out $5,000.  $5,000 +$1,900+$650 = $7,550 for the year.

Repairs $7,550 for the year or $629 a month.  All that being said we don't foresee anything big for 2020 except new tires and regular maintenance.*

* Note....Most budget entries were done after happy hour and could vary a weeee bit either way.

Coming back to life!!

Wednesday 15 January 2020

   After several days of sick, not so sick and sick again we are finally over the sore throat flu like stuff.  My ear is still not good, doesn't hurt like it did just not good.  Sunny and warm temps in the high 70's. Anyway we managed to get out a little today.  I washed the roof of the Moho and Diane went into town for a pedi.  When she go home we washed the side of the Moho until Happy Hour arrived and then we quit.  We were wore out by then had left overs for dinner and called it a day.

Thursday 16 January 2020

This will be the last really nice day before a cool front moves in so we were out washing the rest of the Moho by 8:30.  We wanted to get done before the sun started shinning on it.  We finished just as the sun started baking down on us.  Diane cleaned up, went to town for groceries while I cleaned up around the Moho.  The only thing she could find was steak and shrimp, so that was what we had for dinner.  We only ate half of the steak and shrimp so there is plenty for leftovers. Don't you hate when that happens.  We sat by the fire for awhile Charles(the camp host) stopped over for a chat. then in for the night.

Friday 17 January 2020

Still a nice day, temps in the high 60's but very windy.  We headed over to Jacksonville to look at a couple of used RV's.  I know, I know,  we just can't help our selves.  But nothing jumped out at us so after a nice lunch at Newk's (kind of a sandwich shop)  we headed back home.  This is the weekend for the BMW motorcycle rally and they are pouring into the campground.  I've never seen so many tiny little campers towed by a motorcycle and of course a bunch of tents.  We were stuck with last night's left overs, darn.  My ear is still blocked and I'm not sure the drops are working.  Time will tell.

Saturday 18 January 2020

Cool this morning temps in the 50's but we still had breakfast burritos done on the grill.  Diane went to the drug story and picked up some groceries. She came back put away supplies and I went for a bike ride and when I returned she went for her walk.  It doesn't sound like much but we were busy all day long.  A glass of wine maybe two as we made chicken and zucchini for dinner.  A another nice day.  

Sick Again!!

Wednesday January 8 2020

  My ear was really sore this morning so I made a appointment at an urgent care for 1:30 this after noon.  That's right you can make an appointment at a walk in clinic.  And besides my ear hurting Diane has a sore throat.  Oh Yea!!  We went to town, went to the doctor, went to the pharmacy, went home and went to bed.  The end.

Thursday January 9 2020

   Diane was feeling a little better she went to town for more drugs and ginger-ale.  I mostly laid around the camper complaining.

Friday January 10 2020

   We are both feeling a little better today.  The temps are in the mid 70's and it feels good to sit

Brad with his 

new toys!!

outside.  We did manage to do a few chores but we wore out fast.  We headed to town for fire wood when I noticed the recreation center had a huge stack and pulled in to see how much they charged.  The guy says they don't sell it but they have way to much so he gave us a bunch.  Back to the camper.  I started a fire while Diane cut up mushroom for dinner.  A nice fire, steaks and mushrooms for dinner, more drugs and hopefully we will feel better yet tomorrow.

Saturday January 11, 2020

  Diane sounded terrible this morning but as the day went on she was feeling better.  I started out feeling good, but as the day went on I felt worse.  We managed to clean and wash the truck and a few other chores got done, but by 7:00 I was feeling like crap.  I gave Diane a bunch of grief until she ran me off to bed about 9:00.   More tomorrow.

FLORIDA We made it!!

Friday January 3 2020

A nice morning breakfast on the grill, a nice walk with Rudy around the lake and campground.  We headed out and stopped at the Forest Gump Tree (Forest and Jenny were sitting in it talking) on our

The Grand Live Oak from

the Forest Gump Movie.

A lot of the movie was filmed

here in SC, near Beaufort.

way to Beaufort to get a lantern from the antique store we visited yesterday.  Yesterday we didn't want it, today we can't live without it. Go figure.  And of course lunch was in order so we went to The Brick Restaurant.  We have passed it several times and the parking lot was always full and now we know why.... they are so sloooow.  No need to go back. We finished our tour of town and headed home. After dinner we were just sitting around watching TV when Rudy started barking and going nuts.  We got him calmed down but a minute later he was at it again, hair standing up and barking like crazy. I leashed him up went outside and there at the back tire was a armadillo.  Rudy chased him out from under the Moho and off our site then he was done and ready go back in.  We guess he either could hear or smell him but he definitely didn't want him near our camper.

Saturday January 4 2020

We awoke to that all to familiar sound of rain on the roof.  It continued most of the morning to the

Fiddlers Restaurant!

point Rudy didn't go out until after 10am.  Eventually we headed into town(Ridgeland) for lunch just to get out of the camper.  We ate at a seafood place called Fiddlers, the food was great I had shrimp and scallops and Diane had just scallops both grilled both good.  As we look around the place Diane saw a sign about their fish market out back.  So we walked around town and were just going to check out the market but ended up getting a pound of the medium sized fresh shrimp, steamed with old bay. The price with tax $8.14, I should have gotten two pounds.  By now the rain had stopped so we happen to drive by a RV dealer so we stopped in to check it out.  They only had two diesel units and after the salesman broke off the key trying to open door only to find out he had the wrong key we decided to head home. We started to pack in earnest or the best we could everything is wet with water standing everywhere.

Sunday January 5 2020

We were up and on the road just after 10am a nice day for travel, sunny in the high 60's.  We stopped several times once for a nice lunch and still arrived around 3pm.  I95 was full but no rolling traffic jams I just had to pay attention all the time and the rest areas were full.  When we arrived, the camp host (Charles) pointed us to the correct site and then came down after we were set up to see if we needed any thing. A really nice guy/host.  We set up things we needed, and by then it was time for happy hour a nice walk for Rudy followed by burgers on the grill.

Monday January 6 2020

Well we are all settled into our spot.  It is just beautiful, 50 feet between sites, 20 feet wide concrete pad and of course a view of the lake. We had a nice relaxing breakfast of bacon and eggs done on the It warmed up into the 70's and we needed shorts to finish fixing up our site. We started happy hour a wee bit early as I grilled chicken and asparagus and we all know that is a three glass event.   A very nice day sunny and 75, although it is to drop into the thirties tonight.

Our site for the next 25 days!!

grill.   Diane made a run to  town to the drug store for a prescription refill and groceries but the credit/debit card machines were not working anywhere in town so she came home with just bread and coffee creamer.  I was working on sewer connection, setting up wash line, got the satellite set up and we just fixed the place up like we are here for a month. 

Tuesday January 7 2020

   37 degrees this morning when I took Rudy for his walk but by

Our view from the patio

or dinning room table!!

10am it was in the 50's.  A bit breezy today, ok just plain windy, it blew our rug off of the patio. Diane did laundry and went to the grocery store and I tried to fix the dash display screen but I was unsuccessful with the screen display.   I tried to reboot it by disconnecting the battery cable but it had no effect.  So that one will go on the list for next service stop. It was sunny as temp's rebounded into 70's enough that we had hog maw sausages grilled.  Once again my ear is feeling like it is infected so tomorrow we will be heading to an urgent care facility.

Happy New Year!!!

Tuesday 31 December 2019

    Who can believe it, 2019 is almost over.  We made the best of it (kind of) we went to Hunting

We went to the top!

Island State Park.  Price in 2019 was $6.50 in 2020 price is $10 so we saved a few bucks.  The light house was cool 157 feet tall and the only one in the state open to the public.  Of course we stopped for lunch before we climbed the 167 steps to the top of the lighthouse.  We stopped at Johnson's Creek Tavern for lunch, the food was very good and the walls are cover with dollar bills.  They just removed all the money in 2017 and donated($13,350) to Honor Flight Network.  Back to the lighthouse.  As you climb the steps you notice the walls get closer and closer and the last set of steps have no handrails.  The view was great but I think everybody's knees were a little weak as we stepped out on the catwalk.  We descended the steps and walked out to the beach and walked around a bit, then headed back.

   

The view from the cat walk!!

Back to the Moho and get ready for New Years Eve party at the campground.  Diane made spicy chicken dip to take to the party and I had a little problem starting the oven so we were a little late. Turned out to be a crucial mistake.  We were the last one to arrive and ended up sitting in corner on the last two chairs.  It was OK with lots and lots of food, pseudo DJ, and after we had a dance or two we headed home about 10:30.  Diane stayed up until 12:30, I woke up just before 12:00 watched the ball drop and went back to bed.

Wednesday 1 January 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!  We didn't do much today.  Just  kind of hung out, we had our pork and sauerkraut(mid afternoon) and took several walks around the campground.  We did get new neighbors and it turns out they are from Lewisberry, PA also.  We chatted with them for quite a bit and while we were talking another camper walked by turns out we were all at the East Berlin campground this summer. Back to the camper just a snack for dinner and off to bed.

We see this guy pretty regularly!!

Thursday 2 January 2020

    We were up and moving fairly early today.  We hit the road at 10:30 and headed to Beaufort.  We actually arrive before lunch(I know).  First stop was the visitor center, then a few craft stores and then lunch.  Now we have been through Beaufort three times this week and only after walking the streets for two hours did we realize we have been here before.  You talk about a senior moment. We had lunch at the Hemingway Bistro and the food was very good.  Diane had a Cuban and I had the Muffuletta.  We walked around town for awhile, had a coffee and then headed home after stopping at an antique store.  We got back around 4:30 took Rudy for a long walk and by then temperatures were dropping into the 50's so we headed inside for the night.

View at Beaufort Waterfront!!