Heading back to PA!

 Sunday 17 April 2022   Happy Easter to everyone

     HAPPY EASTER.  We are starting our journey to PA hoping to make it in 4 days or less.  We hit the road at 9:45 on our way to Darien Lake.  Again, we wanted to go a bit further but Diane couldn't find anywhere to stay so Inland Harbor RV Park it is. 

Sunny and very warm temp's in the low 90's. We made amazingly good time stopped for lunch and for fuel before parking at 2:30.  210 miles in under 5 hours.  Traffic on 95 was a little lighter than normal, I guess because it's Easter Sunday.  We parked I got the grill out and set thing up to celebrate Easter with a ham steak and Tony's famous schmutz.  This is a good over night spot but that is about it.  The lots are tight and the roads are narrow, we almost had to ask the neighbor to move in the morning so could get out.  We walked up to the office to pay I got bit twice by mosquitoes and it isn't evening yet. Back to the Moho and air-conditioning.  I put on jeans a long sleaved shirt to cook the ham. The skeeters were terrible. Imagine that 90 plus degrees by the salt water marsh land and the skeeters are bad.  We had diner shut the Moho up killed all the skeeters we could find begore going to bed. We hope to make up some mileage tomorrow with a 300 plus mile day.

Monday 18 April 2022

  Kind of slow today didn't get on the road until 10:00, cloudy and 71 degrees when we hit the road.  Another warm driving day. Diane was trying to get reservations and it was either South of the Border at 261 mile or 315 miles to the next one.  She called Asheboro, NC and no room at the inn so SOB it was.  We pulled into Pedro's campground just before 4pm.  The busy week of traveling has us worn down a bit, so we decided to stay two nights. Worn down was part of it but Diane saw snow, rain and a freeze warning in Dillsburg so staying another day just seemed like a good idea. We took a walk around the complex enjoying what will probably be our last day in shorts and sandals for awhile. I fired up the grill to cook some burgers and when I say fired up I did just that. Apparently I didn't have the gas hose on tight and when I turned around flames were everywhere except in the grill.  Hose melted, side table melted and I think the regulator may have been damaged. I saved the burgers but the grill is toast.

   Tuesday Diane did something like 4 loads of laundry, grocery store and shopped for a grill on line which she found at a Lowes on our way tomorrow. She really enjoyed her day of rest and relaxation. I enjoyed the day even though the temps dropped barely getting out of the 60's. When I took Rudy for his walked I saw a snake all curled up a few sites up from us.  I told Diane so she went to check it out and get a picture but it moved and she was a goner. She flagged down a maintenance worker about it, he got on the radio and Pedro's best descended on that poor snake like a swat team. 4 or 5 trucks parked going both directions the guys jumped out but only one went over to get the snake and just that quick they were all gone again.  No grill so I suffered with homemade meatloaf.

 Wednesday 20 April 2022

   Holy crap it was 42 degrees when I got up this morning. I walked Rudy this morning I had my flannel AND my sweatshirt on.  At least it is sunny and calm. We hooked-up the truck last evening allowing us to be on the road by 9:15.  That is right 9:15! Diane made us reservation at The Mayberry CG in Mount Airy NC. It was sunny and 59 degrees by the time we hit the road. It never did get much warmer the whole trip. We pulled into Lowes in Winston-Salem without any problem.  I drove toward Lowes entrance and dropped Diane off.  A empty parking lot next door made the stop a breeze.  I walked Rudy and not much longer here came Diane with my new grill.  We loaded it up and we were back on the road.  I was quite nervous about pulling the rig in there but it worked out just fine. We still parked by 2:30 after the 203 mile trip with three stops including Lowes. Chicken on the new grill just to break it in right. 

Pilot Mountain, yes it was taken out of the dirty windshield!

Thursday 21 April 2022

  Well, it is quite apparent we are not making it home in 4 days we are already on day 5 and have another to go so maybe 6 days.  In the 40's when I got up no shorts or sandals anymore. Cloudy and only 55 when we hit the road at 10:30. Yea I know later and later every day.  We did have a bacon and egg sandwich for breakfast knowing we only had 187 miles to go today. We stopped for fuel just after getting on I81.  The flying J was terrible, it was busy, the parking lot was very, very rough bouncing the Moho all around. I 81 is full of trucks anymore and the drive is not enjoyable at all. After a rest stop or two we parked at Walnut Hills CG at 2:45. Parked hooked up(water and electric only) a stroll around the CG before Diane went to the Edelweiss German restaurant down the road a bit. The food was great we have never had a meal we didn't enjoy. Tomorrow is back home to good ole PA.

On the road again!

 Monday 11 April 2022

   A lot of anxiety this morning. We are off to the transmission shop 100 miles away and the wind is blowing 15-20 mph, so we decided to drive sperate. A quick breakfast, a short goodbye, turned in our keys, etc. and on the road by 9:30.  I parked at the transmission shop around 11:30 talked to the service manager and she said it would be done for us to sleep in tonight. We were hoping to make it another 100 miles south today yet. Diane picked me up and we set out to kill the afternoon in the truck with Rudy on a hot day and with the top half of the stand in the truck.  We had a nice lunch at the same Mexican restaurant as last time, once again the food was great. A walk and a drink for Rudy and we were off to get some wine. It was just getting boring, so we decided to find a place to hook the truck up as we drove by the shop we noticed the Moho was parked out by the road and appeared to be done. We  turned around pulled in, sure enough it was done. The service manager meet us outside handed us the keys wished us safe travels.  That's right, no bill or paper work, nothing to sign.  We couldn't believe it they were really nice, although it was the second time around.  We hooked up the truck and were back on the road by 3:30 We arrived at J.C.'s RV Park at 5:15 total miles traveled today was only 200 miles, but we are on the road.  J.C.'s was nice place $40 cash and easy access to the highway. Filled up with fuel $4.64.   Left over ribs for diner. Yum!

Tuesday 12 April 2022

   On the road by 9am. We left the truck hooked up and only electric connected we were rolling early.  We are travelling across LA190 to avoid the I10 bridge and congestion in Baton Rogue, always bad even on a good day.  Hit a few light showers but nothing to even slow down. We were just a buzzing along "singing a song" making great time and decided to stop for lunch.  I pull into the rest area Diane heads right to the bathroom I opened the refrigerator door and poof our day went to crap.  An entire bottle of white wine rolls out the door and shatters on the floor!! Oh crap %$$$$, *@#$, and other words.  We are parked in between two trucks can't put the slides out throwing towels, rags, paper towels and whatever we could find at the mess.  Rudy was trying to lick up wine but with so much glass we had to put back in his house. The worst was the shattered glass just everywhere and sticky floors and wet carpet. We cleaned it up enough to have lunch and moved on.   For a good note we stopped at Buc-ee's for fuel, just love this place Diane shopped the whole time I was pumping fuel. $4.90 a gal. Back on the road and we parked at Riverside RV Park in Robertsdale AL around 3:45.  280 miles in under 7 hours with a lunch and fuel break, not to bad for us and spilled wine clean up. As soon as we parked and had the slides were out we were cleaning fools. Diane scrubbed the floor 3 or 4 times soapy water, clean water, soapy and clean I think clean maybe again.  Picking and vacuuming glass in between. Something like a hour and half of scrubbing Diane called it done.

   Diane spent a lot of time on the phone looking for a campground for tomorrow but no luck yet.  Burger on the grill and lots of walks for Rudy.

Wednesday 13 April 2022

   Again, we had a pull through so we were on the road at 9:15 back on I10 heading to Madison FL just outside of Tallahassee. Diane did her do diligence finding us a spot for tonight. We once more hit a few spotty showers and cloudy the whole day and that is unusual for down here. A much needed uneventful day of travel, a few more rest stops and always very careful opening the frig now! After fueling up at Flying J for $5.05 a gallon, we parked at Madison RV & Golf Resort by 4:30. 274 miles in just over 7 hours.   The only place we could find, very nice but a little pricey.  

Thursday 14 April 2022

     Heading to Sumterville and a three night break.  A nice driving day sunny, temps in the high 70's and just a touch of wind.  We were parked at Country Side RV Park and were set up by 2:30.   A 165 mile day in 4 hours two quick stops for lunch and another to stretch and walk a bit. I buzzed right over to Len's since he is leaving for NM tonight.  I pulled in as his last client was leaving. We talked for just a few minutes he had to lock up the office, pack and be on his way to the airport.  By the time I returned Diane had the camper looking like home again.  A glass of white wine was in order, maybe even two while I did chicken on the grill. A nice day.

Friday 15 April 2022 Happy Tax Day

    Sunny and warm today like 85 warm.  We headed down to Mulberry FL to look at a RV, a 07 Winnebago 36g, just like the one we had before. First however we stopped for lunch at the 'Green Door on 8th Cafe'.  Diane has been on a roll finding great restaurants.  Diane had Grilled shrimp in an aioli   sauce with fresh garden salad and I had shrimp and grits( maybe the best I've had) both very good.  We are heading down to this little RV dealer in Mulberry.  We get out they  have about 10 or 12 units all 10-15 years old. Oh why do we do this to ourselves! We looked at three units two were out pretty quickly, they weren't terrible just more work than we want to get into.  The third one needs work but was sound, however the guy we need to may the deal with wasn't in. I'll call on Monday the unit needs some big ticket items like tires and the front clearcoat replaced.  Back to  the Moho, it was 1 1/2 hour drive and the wine bottle was calling us as we walked in. A glass of wine and burgers.

Saturday 16 April 2022

   Today started off good we had a nice breakfast and were heading to Ocala to Optium RV to look at A Foretravel Nimbus.  We had talked and texted the salesman and made the appointment for today.  And texted him when we were close, he didn't reply but who knows he may have been with a customer.  As soon as we walked in we knew something was amiss.  We told them who we were and what we wanted. A few phone calls can't find Wayne and eventually say he is not in but Christa will help us, OK.  We walk back to her office as she excuses herself, she didn't feel good.  Next up walks Hilda and she would help us.  She left us there to go get her phone but after she walked down the isle beside us three times I walked over, "she forgot what office we were in". I'll skip the next hour and a half detail by detail.  She drove us around on a golf cart through the mud, sand and muck stopping at some "other coaches we may like".   Finally, she says they can work up some numbers on the "other coaches" while they search for the Nimbus. We said no and we were leaving. Out comes the sales manger who feeds a line of crap that it must be sold or in shop.  It was never there, I'm not sure Wayne is a real person but that place is worse than CW.  I read some reviews on the place and that has happened to several people.  They advertise a popular model by can't find it and try to sell you something else.  I'll call Wayne Monday see what he has to say. 

   Not all was lost, we stopped for lunch a one of our favorite seafood places and were not disappointed, Diane had scallops and it was shrimp for me. YUM.  

   We stopped and picked up some flowers and went to the cemetery to visit Shawna.  It was very warm, 91 degrees, so we didn't stay long.

Back to the Moho and tacos for dinner.  After that we packed up since we start to head home tomorrow.  

Last days at Sam Rayburn Lake

 Tuesday 5 April 2022 - Sunday 10 April 2022

  Our last week of work in Texas.  The time has just flown by as we worked 5 of our last 10 days here.  The weather is definitely warming up, the days are sunny and hot. The downside has been the wind, blowing so hard the fires were very limited. Thursday and Friday were our two days off and had all our packing for the trip home to do. On Thursday Diane did grocery shopping and cleaning up the inside of the Moho and I vacuumed out the truck.  We made very good use of the last day with a trip to Nuziebell's Antique and Flea Market in Hemphill, TX to recheck a washstand we both liked very much but didn't know if it would fit in the truck for the ride home. Of course, we had lunch on the way over.  Diane found this restaurant/bar at a campground just before the antique store. I was a bit concerned normally not a fan of campground food (mostly frozen then nuked) but I would give it a try. We drove

A great little restaurant!

back this dirt lane to The Lost Frontier Restaurant, turned out to be  just wonderful, everything was homemade and menu was quite different.  The food was delightful with both of us getting the daily special, I had the Shrimp boil and Diane had  the Bourbon Apple Glazed Filet.  Figures, we found the best restaurant just before we are leaving. Done with lunch we go to the antique store, went in looked, measured, back to the truck measured, back inside remeasured, back to the truck remeasured.  We decided we would go home measure the Moho basement storage to see if would fit. About 10 miles down the road we turned around after seeing a yard sale sign drove back a country road never did find the yard sale turned around again. Another 5 miles heading on home we figured this was our last chance, so we turned around again, she took $25.00 off, so we bought the stand.  After weeks of talking about it and thinking about it and discussing it, we just wrote the check and poof it was all over.  Except for how we will get it back to PA. 

The stand we just had to buy!!

 

  Now Saturday came as expected and we are down to just the weekend to get organized, packed and we are on duty both days.  I don't know how time sneaks up on us like this. Diane kind of saved the day she did rounds and most of working stuff.  I spent Saturday morning rearranging, repacking, re-rearranging then re-repacking the basement storage until we could fit the washstand in.  It was a tight fit, but it is in there.  Now we won't be able to getting anything out except the chairs until we get home. I did just enough work on campground stuff to say I participated.

    Sunday was half over before we knew what happened 72 campers checking out trash blown all over the place from high winds last night. Diane spent so much time out picking up trash I thought she left without me.  But the wind died down and as dinner time approached, we were ready for our last fire, last meal (steak and mushrooms) along with some wine. Tomorrow will be a big day we are leaving Texas, getting the transmission worked on, again and hope to get to southern Louisiana by evening.  And lets not forget they are calling for severe weather AGAIN.

The last of our time in Texas as Park Hosts.  Our site for the winter, 

not to shabby and we had a lake view.

And this guy was a genius, a kids powered scooter and a cooler on

the foot area for a seat.  He was never without his beer!!  😂

Springtime in Texas!!

Tuesday 29 March 2022

   Last day to work this shift.  Again, not much happening Diane did rounds I cut up several logs lying around the campground into campfire sized pieces.  I finished and returned for a break by the time Diane made her afternoon rounds almost all of the wood I sawed up was already gone.  The campers must have been waiting like vultures for me to leave.  

Wednesday 30 March 2022

   Things are warming up nicely here now temps are up in the high 70's low 80's spring is here.  But with the warm temps come the spring pollen and strong winds.  The pine pollen is terrible now and wind creates a green fog to say nothing of trying to keep the vehicles clean.  Poor Rudy had to hide in between the stacks of firewood to get out of the wind. We have been trying to get some extra campfire time to use up the wood we collected but wind has not been cooperating.

It must have made him feel better.  He was still in the sun, but out of the wind!!

Thursday 31 March 2022 

Today the Moho goes to the shop to have the transmission checked.  We have had an oil leak and wanted to get it checked before we started our trip east.  So, we were up early and on the road around 9am heading to Alexanderia Louisiana just 90 miles away.  Diane mapped our way making sure we did not get on the same road we took coming here in January with 12' 3" bridge.  There weren't many options just one road, a two lane road that winds around the lakes and through all the little towns.  The first half was very rough and bumpy. The speed limit was 65 and 70 mph but I had to stay around 55 or slower to keep the dishes in the cupboards and Diane in her seat. But we made it! Arrived at lunch unhooked the truck and headed over to the transmission place.  The people seemed nice, Diane picked me up and we headed to the first restaurant we came to, it was now almost 1 o'clock and we were starved.  Food was good.  We hit a few antique stores and before we knew what happened it was 4:30 and time to check on the Moho.  It was finished and ready to go, Oh Yea, leak fixed!! We hooked up the truck and headed home. A long day but we are relieved to know the tranny is good to go.  When we hit the rough and bumpy road we stopped for a break before the last 40 mile.  We were talking having a good time when Diane says this road does NOT look familiar. We missed our turn and are now on a very narrow county road, can't turn around.  Well she got us back home without going under the low bridge and only added 30 miles to the trip. Back, parked and hooked up before dark! Wine for dinner!

Friday 1 April 2022

   It was after 7 when I got up and still wore out. Diane was up by 8 and we enjoyed a nice breakfast. We finished up breakfast Diane started planning our trip back looking for campgrounds and making reservations while I started cleaning up a bit for our cross-country trip. The first thing to go is the huge piece of cardboard I was using to crawl under the Moho to check transmission leak.  Well crap, crap and double crap.  Wouldn't you know we are still leaking transmission fluid.  I went in told Diane she hung up the phone as the day went from wonderful to just wandering in a flash. I took some pictures sent them to the transmission guy, he texted back "they're thinking we need a new boot" and he would call when he found one. Five O'clock somewhere time arrived and no answer so we had a big glass of wine with dinner.

Saturday 2 April 2022

    Another nice day. We headed up to Lufkin to hit a bunch of antique stores we missed the last time. First thing of course was lunch, first we found a nice bistro but all they were serving was breakfast next little place had a nice selection but no dining area.  The place we found was Mom's Diner just a little place you stand in line to order, and they delivered to our table, Diane had a chicken quesadilla and I had a grilled chicken fajita. Done eating we hit the antique stores and found one item so the trip was a success. Back to the Moho, walked Rudy, left overs for dinner.

Sunday 3 April 2022

    A nice day today and Diane wanted to take advantage by steam cleaning the Moho floor, on yea. But it needed done why, you ask, because I spilled coffee creamer during our return trip from the repair shop and the floor was still sticky. We were done by the middle of the afternoon Diane went to the store while I finished putting the rugs and stuff back in the camper.  I called Diane but she couldn't talk fire trucks and such passing her, wondering where the fire was.  Turns out it was beside us.  The pit where we dump ashes and fire pit debris had caught fire and spread to the surrounding woods.  It did come very close to the volunteer's camper, luckily the fire department put it out quickly.  We had hot dogs and hamburgers today, hot dogs for lunch and hamburgers for dinner they just seemed to go together. Another nice day.

The fire is still smoldering 2 days after the original fire.....we are keeping an eye on that.  

Monday 4 April 2022

   Back on duty today a lot of campers leaving and only 4 checking in.  That's the way it goes we fill up on Thursday and Friday and empty out on Sunday or Monday.  There was a Grand Design rally down the road at the KOA, so this weekend and both us and the KOA were packed. Diane did the rounds checking people in and out while I went around pulling out signpost that were loose, the COE are replacing them all and we are just helping.  I did get ahold of the transmission guy and have tentatively scheduled transmission rework for Monday the 11th as we head home.  Certainly hope they get it done right this time.  Diane had to run to headquarters to do paper work and picked up wings for dinner on her way back. Sat by the fire with a glass of wine.

Springtime has arrived in Texas!!