WINTER-SPRING 2011 Page 1 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| RV ROAD TRIP TO FLORIDA |
CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS.
JANUARY 30
We drove up to Hatfield, MA to load more supplies on the RV. It was still inside the garage, however,
they must have unplugged us and our batteries wore down. It did not kick into the propane as a back up.
We told them we had turned on the refrigerator which was their suggestion, so we have no idea what
happened. We were unable to get electricity even when plugged into the outlet. We worked in the dark
except for the lantern and got everything put away, got home around 6:00 and went to work again
organizing what we still needed to pack. So, Monday we will head out at 5:30 AM, and hopefully they
will be able to correct the problem in time for us to leave for Cherry Hill RV Park in College Park, MD.
The weather in CT is going to be snowy again Tuesday with snow and ice Wednesday, so we need to get
out of here! We may be in MD for an extra night with icy conditions Tuesday, but rain on Wednesday.
We though RVing would be easier than boating, but I guess not!! Final destination: Punta Gorda, FL, Gulf
View RV Resort for a month.
We drove up to Hatfield, MA to load more supplies on the RV. It was still inside the garage, however,
they must have unplugged us and our batteries wore down. It did not kick into the propane as a back up.
We told them we had turned on the refrigerator which was their suggestion, so we have no idea what
happened. We were unable to get electricity even when plugged into the outlet. We worked in the dark
except for the lantern and got everything put away, got home around 6:00 and went to work again
organizing what we still needed to pack. So, Monday we will head out at 5:30 AM, and hopefully they
will be able to correct the problem in time for us to leave for Cherry Hill RV Park in College Park, MD.
The weather in CT is going to be snowy again Tuesday with snow and ice Wednesday, so we need to get
out of here! We may be in MD for an extra night with icy conditions Tuesday, but rain on Wednesday.
We though RVing would be easier than boating, but I guess not!! Final destination: Punta Gorda, FL, Gulf
View RV Resort for a month.
FEB 1 WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO FLORIDA!
Waking up at 4:30 AM and leaving at 5:30, we arrived at Hatfield a little before 7:30. They diagnosed
the problem: unplugging the outlet while the refrigerator was on, draining the batteries so there was no
12 volt jolt to kick in the outlet electric!! They got us started and we were on our way, clanking away
with the awning make horrific noises. All new to us, it was disturbing since we didn't know for sure things
were tight. The roads through Connecticut, New York and parts of New Jersey were filled with pot holes
an in terrible shape, so that made it worse. Once we got to better roads, it was much better.
I am used to "trawler speed", 8 knots and going 65 on the interstates is not my thing. Jim's a great
driver, but I always worry about the "other guy". It will take some getting used to the wideness of the
RV and having cars seem feet away and the mirrors of tractor trailers seeming inches away!!! Closing my
eyes was a good thing sometimes. The traffic on the Baltimore Beltway slowed us down for a while during
rush hour, but people were playing "in and out" the whole way.
We reached our destination at Cherry Hill Park RV Resort, MD at 6:30 and were greeted at the
registration area right away. As we pulled down the driveway, Jim noticed a tire in the road and smoke.
It was from the back wheel of my car towing behind and was all shriveled up in a flat circle and the
wheel down to the rim. At first we thought it was from the breaking system, but that would have caused
other tires to suffer, too. Turns out it was most likely from loosing air. If we were in the car, we would
have heard it. It was fortunate that it happened where it did and NOT on the interstate. The people
here had the spare put on within minutes! Jim had also noticed the battery on my car was dead, so they
charged it for us right away. We probably should have run the car when we made a "pit" stop along the
way, but we later noticed the headlights would not shut off on the car. Turns our that when they put
the key in and turned on to ACC to towing, they pushed it one notch over to where the headlights would
turn on automatically when it get foggy or dark and that's what drew down the battery! I've never used
that feature on my car and didn't know it existed. The people here found the problem,
The roads are icy here today, but I 95 next to us is humming with traffic. We will be here another day
to get the tire fixed and wait for better weather. People next to us from MA left today since tomorrow
is going to be worse in the morning and then rain. We may try to leave for a KOA in NC tomorrow if it
looks safe enough. We have no water aboard since we are still winterized, but the facilities here are
next to us. It's just a little inconvenient with the icy roads here, so walking in the snow is better.
Lily finally figured out this thing moves and settled down after I made her a bed at my feet with a
pillow against the door to give her some support from the vibrations.
Waking up at 4:30 AM and leaving at 5:30, we arrived at Hatfield a little before 7:30. They diagnosed
the problem: unplugging the outlet while the refrigerator was on, draining the batteries so there was no
12 volt jolt to kick in the outlet electric!! They got us started and we were on our way, clanking away
with the awning make horrific noises. All new to us, it was disturbing since we didn't know for sure things
were tight. The roads through Connecticut, New York and parts of New Jersey were filled with pot holes
an in terrible shape, so that made it worse. Once we got to better roads, it was much better.
I am used to "trawler speed", 8 knots and going 65 on the interstates is not my thing. Jim's a great
driver, but I always worry about the "other guy". It will take some getting used to the wideness of the
RV and having cars seem feet away and the mirrors of tractor trailers seeming inches away!!! Closing my
eyes was a good thing sometimes. The traffic on the Baltimore Beltway slowed us down for a while during
rush hour, but people were playing "in and out" the whole way.
We reached our destination at Cherry Hill Park RV Resort, MD at 6:30 and were greeted at the
registration area right away. As we pulled down the driveway, Jim noticed a tire in the road and smoke.
It was from the back wheel of my car towing behind and was all shriveled up in a flat circle and the
wheel down to the rim. At first we thought it was from the breaking system, but that would have caused
other tires to suffer, too. Turns out it was most likely from loosing air. If we were in the car, we would
have heard it. It was fortunate that it happened where it did and NOT on the interstate. The people
here had the spare put on within minutes! Jim had also noticed the battery on my car was dead, so they
charged it for us right away. We probably should have run the car when we made a "pit" stop along the
way, but we later noticed the headlights would not shut off on the car. Turns our that when they put
the key in and turned on to ACC to towing, they pushed it one notch over to where the headlights would
turn on automatically when it get foggy or dark and that's what drew down the battery! I've never used
that feature on my car and didn't know it existed. The people here found the problem,
The roads are icy here today, but I 95 next to us is humming with traffic. We will be here another day
to get the tire fixed and wait for better weather. People next to us from MA left today since tomorrow
is going to be worse in the morning and then rain. We may try to leave for a KOA in NC tomorrow if it
looks safe enough. We have no water aboard since we are still winterized, but the facilities here are
next to us. It's just a little inconvenient with the icy roads here, so walking in the snow is better.
Lily finally figured out this thing moves and settled down after I made her a bed at my feet with a
pillow against the door to give her some support from the vibrations.
View from the front of
our RV with the road
going to the convention
center that has the
showers, TV room,
laundry.
View of the inside with the sliders
closed. We don't want to open them in
case we get ice. It's a bit tight but
cozy.
R/V Golden Lily
FEBRUARY 2
The temperature was well above freezing, however, we still waited to leave at 10:00 after the rush
hour traffic. The ride was a good one accept we have 2 small cracks in the passenger side front window
from stones flying up. We will have to get it fixed, but at least it's all on the same side.
We arrived at the KOA Four Oaks in Smithfield, NC to make a 300 mile day since we had a late start.
We had originally planned to go to South of Border, but that would have been another 120 miles and it
was getting close to 5:00 already. We opened up the rear slide so we can properly make the bed and
finally put away clothes in the dresser. It has been pretty cluttered the past few days. We still are
winterized, no water aboard and will wait until we get to Savannah tomorrow. We may spend 2 nights
there to get that job done and spend some time at Campers' World. The temperature reached 72
degrees at the NC Welcome center!!! Snow disappeared just before Richmond, VA!!!
The temperature was well above freezing, however, we still waited to leave at 10:00 after the rush
hour traffic. The ride was a good one accept we have 2 small cracks in the passenger side front window
from stones flying up. We will have to get it fixed, but at least it's all on the same side.
We arrived at the KOA Four Oaks in Smithfield, NC to make a 300 mile day since we had a late start.
We had originally planned to go to South of Border, but that would have been another 120 miles and it
was getting close to 5:00 already. We opened up the rear slide so we can properly make the bed and
finally put away clothes in the dresser. It has been pretty cluttered the past few days. We still are
winterized, no water aboard and will wait until we get to Savannah tomorrow. We may spend 2 nights
there to get that job done and spend some time at Campers' World. The temperature reached 72
degrees at the NC Welcome center!!! Snow disappeared just before Richmond, VA!!!
Lily watching the
cat at the RV
across from us
just before we
left.
cat at the RV
across from us
just before we
left.
< NO SNOW in
Virginia!!!
Lily riding under my
feet >
Virginia!!!
Lily riding under my
feet >
APRIL 19
We arrived in FL Feb. 8. I was unable to publish anything on our website because of downloading
problems and being on a wireless. Some pictures did not restore, so I had to wait until we got home. We
stayed at Gulf View, Punta Gorda for a month and caught up with land a boating friends. We spent a
week each in Brandenton and Tampa, then on to Disney World for 5 days. In Daytona, we stayed at the
KOA for a week so Jim could play some golf. Next stop was Brunswick, GA where we met up with
boating friends from Wisconsin who have a home on St. Simons. Ocean Lakes resort in Myrtle Beach was
my favorite place since we had a site 2 from the beach. We caught up with a Winnebago rally there and
they let us sign up for the festivities for 4 days. We worked our way up the south to see friends in
Mooresville, Fancy Gap and Newburgh, NY to see my cousins before finally getting home April 15.
Gulf Sunset - Bradenton, FL
We arrived in FL Feb. 8. I was unable to publish anything on our website because of downloading
problems and being on a wireless. Some pictures did not restore, so I had to wait until we got home. We
stayed at Gulf View, Punta Gorda for a month and caught up with land a boating friends. We spent a
week each in Brandenton and Tampa, then on to Disney World for 5 days. In Daytona, we stayed at the
KOA for a week so Jim could play some golf. Next stop was Brunswick, GA where we met up with
boating friends from Wisconsin who have a home on St. Simons. Ocean Lakes resort in Myrtle Beach was
my favorite place since we had a site 2 from the beach. We caught up with a Winnebago rally there and
they let us sign up for the festivities for 4 days. We worked our way up the south to see friends in
Mooresville, Fancy Gap and Newburgh, NY to see my cousins before finally getting home April 15.
Gulf Sunset - Bradenton, FL
