Missed the Month of April

We left Jacksonville and headed to the Georgia Good Sam Rally in Perry, GA where we had a great time.  We were one of 17 rigs from Florida as they were having their Spring Samboree in Okechobee at the same time. They had good entertainment that was enjoyed by all.

Next we headed toward Chattanooga for a couple of nights where we had hoped to visit a ham friend of mine, but we could not get together.  Then we headed to Sevierville, TN for SKP ACRE.  This is an Escapees event that is for all chapters in the east.  When we got to River Plantaation, and I went to set up, I discovered that I had left my Y and Water Regulator in Chattanooga.  I had an old regulator, but it leaked.  I tried all 3 of my spares, and finally used the one that leaked the least.  We had a great time at SKP ACRE.  We enjoyed some good entertainment and some very informative seminars.  We got to spend some time with some folks that we had not gotten to spend much time with and it was really good to get to know them better.  Debby and I enjoyed the Smokey Mountain National Park.  We would go back to that area again!

While we were there, we also visited the Busch Bean museum.  We enjoyed that very much!

 I forgot to include a picture or two of the National Park.

We left Sevierville, we headed to Cave City, KY.  We have been at Cave Country RV Park now for almost 2 weeks and we will stay until next Wed.  We have had some fun time here.  We went on the tour of Lost River Cave, via boat, which was fun, but the entrance was VERY low!  The water dripping from the ceiling is called "kisses" so the rubbing of my back on the way into the cave we are calling "hugs".

Yesterday, we went to Ft. Knox in hopes of picking up a little gold, however, we just ended up spending money at the commissary.  We also went to look at the campground there and found it to be a nice campground.

I discovered that one of our LP tanks has a bad stem on it and can not be opened, so we ordered a tank from Lowes and had it delivered to the store in Glascow.  We picked it up, and the date on it is 4/16, the same month we picked it up.  It hurts me to not be able to get to the LP we had filled at the base, but I guess we'll just have to get over it.  The  other tank has expired, so I  will have to replace it also.

We are headed to Escapee Chapter 51 rally next in Indiana, then on to Dayton for the largest Ham Fest in the world. 

Y'all travel safe, and I'll write more later.

How Time Passes When Your Having Funn

It is hard for me to believe is has been over a month since I last typed for you!  We had a great time at the Chapter 57 Escapee Rally in Eusis, FL.  Our site was not the best, but it was only for 1 week, so we endured.  It was good to see our old friends and to meet new ones.  Southern Palms did not help us much as we did not have the club house to ourselves as we thought, but we made do.  Entertainment was enjoyed by all and we all look forward to the next chapter rally.  We did go for a river cruise while we were there.  It was really nice

When we left Eustis, we headed to Hobken, GA for our Good Sam Chapter Rally at Twin Oaks Park.  This is a very nice park, just no sewer hookups.  We had a nice clubhouse to use and a good time was enjoyed by all. 

From Hobken we headed to NAS Jax RV Park where we currently are.  This is a nice park, but nothing to write home about.  We did not get our preferred site, but we are in a nice pull through site.  We are in the lower section, which is ok, but, the site is small and very little room for the truck. 
Yesterday we celebrated our daughters birthday by taking a trip to Single Vision.  An educational wild animal refuge.  We have been there before, but each time we go, we enjoy it more.  Most of the big cats are really getting big and the bears are really growing. 

This is a place that we recommend everyone try to visit in Melrose, FL any time you cam.  We really enjoy visiting there and we have not met anyone who goes there that does not enjoy it. 
We leave next Monday for the Georgia Samboree.  Then headed north for the summer.

Just an update on what we have also dealt with since we got to NAS Jax.  We stopped to buy 2 tires on the way in.  When we got to the tire place, we looked at the other 2 that we weren't going to replace, and found that they were worn irregularly, so we also replaced them.  Money that we sure had not planned on spending.  I went to General RV to see about getting the axles aligned, but they do not do that, but they gave me the phone number of Florida Alignment.   I called John and he came out and checked our axles.  We are happy to report that the axles are in alignment ant the tires are tracking true, however, 2 of our wheel bearings are loose and need replaced.  General RV cannot get us in until after we will be gone, so we will have to have that done another time.  So in addition to this money we had not planned on spending, the truck had a check engine light come on several times after I had reset it.  Took the truck to Garber Ford in Green Cove Sprinng who replaced the EGR Valve and reset the light.  They also found a leak in the radiator, so that was annother $2500 we had not planned on spending.  Before I got the truck home, the light came on again.  So, the next morning it was back to Garber Ford who then replaced the MAP Sensor, nicely at no charge to us.   They did find a sub code related that indicated the diesel particulate filter was clogged.  I had an appointment for the axles the next morning, so it was Friday before I could go back to the dealership..  They found the Back Pressure sensor was bad, and it only cost us another $150 of unplanned money.  At least the truck is now fixed (or it appears to be).  We are hopping for no more unplanned expenses for a while.

Y'all travel safe, and I'll type more later.  I will try to keep up a little better

A Month Already, Again!

It's hard to believe that it has been a month again since I posted.  We left Summerdale, AL at Rainbow Plantation and went to the Good Sam of Florida Rally at Tallahassee, FL.  We had a good time and our friends Bob & Sue Guthrie traveled with us and attended.  As usual, unloading and loading their Smart Car was a specticle that we should have sold tickets for.  Everyone sure seems to enjoy witnessing their procedure.  I know we sure did the first time we saw it.  We enjoyed the rally as we got to see many members of our Good Sam Chapter, the Sunset Ramblers.  It was good to see everyone.

Our friends, Hollis & Regena bought a new rig at the Rally at Tally.  They are the South Carolina State Directors.  We know that they have been looking for over a year and it is good to see them finally find a rig they like.

We left Tallahassee and headed toward Thousand Trails Orlando in Clermont, FL.  We only stayed there for 3 days, so we were only able to get a 30 amp site.  We left there and traveled the arduous 31 miles to the Central Florida Fairgrounds to attend the Orlando Hamcation, the ARRL National gathering this year.  We had a great time.  We parked with WBCCI, our Ham Radio Club that conduct the RV Service Nets.  It was good to put faces with the names and calls.  There were also a number of IOOK members there, which we hope to meet more of when we head to Dayton Hamcation.  I was able to get everything on my want list, which was actually rather small.  I also one the Grand Prize of the club,  a Eagle One HF Antenna.  As I already had one, I was able to see the one I won before we left the fairgrounds.

We left the fairgrounds and drove the same arduous 31 miles back to Thousand Trails Orlando, where we were able to get a 50 amp site.  We were really hoping for a 50 amp site as we are here for 15 days.  We are in the same site we were in when the kids came and visited.  Today we took some time and looked at a 2006 Phaeton 40QDR motor home.  They have really kept it in good shape and made changes that were exactly what we would want.  Unfortunately, we just can't afford their asking price right now.  Tonight we went and visited some new friends that are related to Ken & Sherrie Risberg.  We really enjoy their company.

From here we will be heading to Escapee Chapter 57 rally at Southern Palms in Eustis, FL then to Hobokin, GA for our Good Sam Chapter Rally, the Sunset Ramblers then on to NAS Jacksonville for a couple of weeks to be near the kids.  I will try to update the blog a little more  often

Travel safe and I'll type more later!

Once a Month

It's  hard to believe it has been over a month since I last wrote.  We left NAS Jacksonville, FL on 7 January, 2016 and drove 405 miles to Escapee Park Rainbow Plantation in Summerdale, AL.  This is really a nice park, one of our favaorites in the Escapee Rainbow Parks system.  We are in a site under a tree, which I don't care for, but most sites are.  It isn't the tree so much that I don't care for, but there is no grass under the trees.  Anyway, this is a very active park.  There is constantly something scheduled at the club house, and folks get together a lot to do things out in town.  Here is a  picture of a get together for a 4:00 PM Happy Hour at the club house.

We have participated in a breakfast at DeRailed Dinner, which is a truck stop that enjoys rail road decore.

There has been entertainment on occasion.  We really enjoyed the Sweethearts of Branson, Denny Yeary and Shelia Renee.  They know our friends, Ron & Kay Ravoli who also played a year at Branson.

This campground has a beautiful club house.  We have enjoyed this campground so much, that we have added our name to the ERPU list.  This is a program that offers a 5 year lease with the option of renewing for $1 at the end of the lease.  If you don't renew, you get your money back, as long as there is someone on the list to buy your lease.

We joined our friends, Bob & Sue Guthery that have an ERPU lot here.  They just their lot  a couple of months ago, and look forward to moving out of their least lot in Livingston, TX.  It has been great to see them.  They are going to the Florida Good Sam Rally at Tallahassee with us.  That is where we are headed next on the 2nd of Feb.  It will be good to see the Florida group again.  After the Florida Good Sam Rally we are headed to Thousand Trails Orlando and will meet up with Bob & Sue at Orlando Hamcation. That should be a lot of fun. 

I have used my new Eagle One antenna a lot since I have been here.  I check into the RV Service net almost every morning and at least twice per week, I check into South Cars. 

Y'all travel safe, and I'll type more later.