We left Lazy Lakes at 8:00 Tuesday Morning, March 15.
Several of our fellow campers wished us well on our trip on Monday; and, several walked over to wish us well on Tuesday Morning.
As we started up the keys, the sun was directly in Jim's eyes (mind too, although that didn't matter, as I was not driving.) When I mentioned my concern, Jim said it would only be for about 10 minutes. And, he was right.
Jim drove until 10:30 and stopped to check everything, lights, camera action! We stopped at a rest area and I noticed a sign across the road, Ft. Lauderdale 41 miles - Orlando 241 miles.
Jim had decided to drive through the middle of Florida rather than on 95. This is a very pretty drive with lots of plant farms and horse farms - the fencing on the 'estates' and the horses grazing made for a lot of fun to see.
I did not realize how hilly the mid central Florida is. After being in the flat lands, this was somewhat of a shock.
Good travel until we got to around Sebring / Lake Placid area, and then all the way up to Ocala. Jim said he didn't realize the effect Disney World would have on what I can easily call the Gulf Side of Florida, although we were in the middle of Florida. Lots and lots of traffic and lots and lots of retirement areas.
We stopped at 3:00 between Lake Wales and Haines for gas. Here, again, is the congested area.
We started looking through the RV book for a place to stay after the gas stop. There was a place in Leesburg but that was a little early for Jim to stop for the day.
So, as in the boat when we were looking for marinas, we found ourselves looking and not making any decisions.
By now, Jim is getting what I call a 'little white-eyed' and he spots a Sam's Club to our right, easy to pull into and a large, large parking lot. We are about 18 miles south of Ocala. And, the time is around 5:00.
The only problem is that the parking lot is hilly. Again, a big surprise.
Jim goes into Sam's Club to talk with the manager. He asks for the Manager and when the Manager is not available, Jim told the worker that he just wanted permission to park the camper for the night. He was assured "oh, yeah, go ahead, park on the back side, people do it all the time."
I am standing outside the camper when Jim returns with good news/bad news. Yes, of course, we can stay in the parking lot, we do have to move the camper to another location.
Jim gets in to crank the camper and move on the other side of the parking lot - and - nothing happens. No nothing. Jim looks at me and I look at him - a big ole uh-oh. The alternator/battery/generator light is on and staring us in the face.
A few minutes of pondering and Jim says "let me try this." He activates the backup battery and she starts right up. Now, we try to find a 'flat spot' in the parking lot and there are no flat spots, just hills or knolls.
We pull to one area and the camper is tilting to the left. Jim thinks he is going to stay in this spot at first, then, looking around he decides to go down to the far side of Sam's Club. Still not flat, but maybe a little more flat. And, of course, he did not turn the camper off, it is still running for fear we would not be able to get her cranked up again.
Moving once again to the third and final spot at Sam's Club. You can probably imagine, it is tedious to drive through the parked cars and once we did get over to the final spot, again, as you would imagine, the camper takes up about eight parking spots in order to leave room in the front for us to be able to pullout and turn this big bus and the Honda out into the driving lane. In this spot, the camper is 'headed up hill' and this spot is somewhat better.
We are both a little concerned about the camper not starting on Wednesday Morning. Jim remembers that in his research on Monaco Campers, he remembers there is a Monaco Dealer and Service Shop just back down the road from where we were, about 20 miles. We both remembered seeing the "Wildwood" road sign as we passed by - and the Monaco Store is at, of course, 1 Monaco Way, Wildwood.
Jim places a call to Monaco although it is after hours, just in case, we do not start up on Wednesday Morning.
There is a huge shopping plaza across the road from Sam's Club with lots of restaurants. Jim offers to take me 'out for something to eat we can walk over there.' One look at that highway, imagine the busiest four lane road you can think of, and I try to politely say 'no, thank you.'
Jim then says "well, we can unhook the car and drive over." As unhooking the car from the camper, disengaging the brake buddy, etc. involves some work, I opt for a tuna salad sandwich and chips, eating right inside the camper, thank you very much.
After my sandwich I just go lay down on the bed with a book, trying to leave Jim alone with not too many questions, as he is in his thinking mode.
An easy, good nights sleep for me. I didn't ask Jim how he slept as I was afraid of the answer.
Jim already had the coffee going when I got up at the Sam's Club Parking Lot on Wednesday Morning. I knew he was anxious so I got the bed made, got my coffee and waited on my instruction.
First things first, travel preparations made inside the camper, drawers tightly closed, doors latched open, coffee pot emptied and secured away, ......then, we hold our breathe hoping she will start, and start she did!
We checked the lights, turn signals on the car and we are off. It is still somewhat dark at 7:00 and Jim doesn't necessarily like to drive the camper at night - so, we knew in just a few minutes the skies would lighten up.
And, fortunately, we just boogie down the road.
Jim's plan is to get to Norwood before dark without turning the camper off at all.
We made our first stop on Wednesday Morning at a McDonald's in Callahan at 10:00 a.m. Jim went in for our biscuits (he wanted to walk just a little) and I stayed outside the camper. Of course, the camper is not switched off.
At about 12:30, I heard a large bang and looked at Jim's face. I should note, here, that Jim and I both decided it was wise for me to keep my head down, reading a book or working on a crossword. The brakes on my side of the camper do not work at all! :) And, I continue to gasp and say 'watch out' if I am looking at the road while Jim is driving.
Back to the bump. We are near Point South SC, coincidentally at the same turnoff for the camp ground we stayed over one night last year. As Jim is somewhat familiar with this area, he knows he can pull off 95 (we got on 95 sometime back - again, I had my head down!) with good space for turnaround.
The bang was a large piece of lumber. Jim was able to avoid the lumber with the camper, but it did bounce under the car somewhere. After our searching around under the car, Jim says "everything looks good" - maybe the lumber hit just outside the left rear tire - so, we are off again. I should say that with my head down reading we seem to be making good time up the road as I cannot keep track of where we are.
At 3:13, Jim stops in Latta SC for a fill up. We had hoped to get all the way home, but better not to chance it. Again, the camper is running as Jim fills up.
Before I know it, we are in Bennettsville, then Cheraw, then Wadesboro, Ansonville and soon to see the "Welcome to Norwood" sign.
Of course, Jim and I were both very excited to be home.
And, by chance, we saw Chip in his work van, near River Road at the bridge just before getting into Norwood. Jim tooted the horn at him, I waved like a maniac, and Chip just looked at us, and gave a little wave, stone faced. I felt like we were just returning from a quick trip to Ansonville and I got a little embarrassed at my excitement to see Chip, as, obviously, that was not the case with him. Jim said "well, he probably didn't recognize us."
Coming down Island Cove Road, we see Huntley and Tiffany out on the street with their jump ropes. Huntley runs to get in the camper and Tiffany gets aboard too. This was a proper reunion!
Both Tiffany and Huntley rode to our house with us in the camper. Lots of hugs and love to go around.
Tiffany and Huntley only stayed a minute or two. While I was directing Jim backing into the driveway (he unhooked the car already) Debbie and Sassy came around the curve in the golf cart. Once Jim got the camper into the driveway, Debbie and Sassy got around us, went home and then came over. Super reunion with Debbie and Sassy. Debbie told us that when we first left, back in January, Sassy was still coming over in the mornings.
Sassy visits us often times in the mornings. Coming in to say hello, get a treat and then goes back home. One morning she was gone a long time and Debbie went out to look for her and Sassy was sitting at our back door. Hopefully, Sassy will resume her morning visits.
Debbie had made a pound cake for our return and brought that over. Still warm and smelled delicious. Jim and I both had to dig right into it!
As I expected, the yard needs mowing and the flower beds are weedy. With the temperatures being warm for the next day or two, I will have plenty of yard time.
The camper is still packed with stuff - clothes, food, etc. that needs to be cleaned out. Again, so much to do, and plenty of time to do it!
Our winter in Lazy Lakes was terrific. Spending time with the Lee's, and especially Gabby and Lily, was the very best. A great time was had and now we look forward to being home, here in Norwood, on our Lake Tillery, and eventually, back to Cherry Grove.
Life and the Goodness Thereof......
The final pictures of lazykeydaze.blogspot.com
Getting the 'mickey mouse' lights on back of the car - Monday Night, March 14, 2011. Don't you know, the first try we had them 'reversed' so some adjustments had to be made.
Carpet up, chairs stored away in the camper - Monday, March 14, 2011
That's the brake buddy in the blue storage tub - Jim is getting ready to put the Brake Buddy in the car.
Jim getting the 'hitch' back on the car. We did not attach the car until we got out on the Lazy Lakes Road - not enough room in the campground. We were pleasantly surprised, when stopped on Lazy Lakes Road to connect the car, to see Marty coming up the road to say good-bye.
Our first stop on Tuesday Morning. The sign reads "Ft. Lauderdale 41 miles, Orlando 241 miles.
Jim sitting outside the camper, on the curb, at Sam's Club, on Tuesday Afternoon, March 15. Note his expression as he thinks about the camper not starting on Wednesday Morning for our trip, and also, the Monaco Manual at his side!
Our Welcome Home Sign designed by Huntley that greeted us on our return to our house.
Our first view of our yard and Lake Tillery upon our arrival on Wednesday, March 16.
No comments:
Post a Comment