They Saw Us Coming

Hey there folks. Sorry it has been such a long time since I have posted anything. Do to illness I was lacking the spirit to post about traveling. Well hopefully we will be able to travel north for a week or three this summer. Yes I said travel north as anyone who has followed my blog knows that eight years ago we purchase a park model home in Starke Florida.
So here is a bit of an update from this lazy blogger. After not traveling for a couple of years we decided to sell the motorhome. Although we loved it, it was a shame to just leave it sit. So we sold it to a couple who we hope will love it as much as we did..

We bought a KZ travel trailer from Florida RV.  Oh what a mistake that was purchasing from that dealer.
Now this was not our first rodeo. We have owned all types of camping vehicles over the years and know what to look for when inspecting a travel trailer. And everything at the time checked out. They were even replacing the refrigerator when we arrived the day of purchase. Sure we know there are sometimes hidden problem when purchasing a used trailer but this trailer was only a couple of years old.
Yes as the saying goes "They saw us coming."
First Day: It was raining when we brought it home from the dealer. We Just towed it 60 miles home and parked it. When the rain stopped we went out plug it in, turned off the lights, turned on the air and the refrigerator. Hooked up the water , double checked for any leaks before going back into the house.

Second Day: We noticed that the back corner of the travel had delaminated. And now there was funny
stain on the couch, that wasn't there when purchased. And the refrigerator wasn't getting cold.  The antenna wouldn't crank up. The bathroom fan won't turn on.
SO. We called the dealer. We explained about the refrigerator not cooling and other items. They said the refrigerator was rebuilt not new and it was under warranty. So we said we would bring it back and they could replace it. Their response was it was only a warranty for them.. And as it was a used trailer it was bought as is.  Well now that made us owners of a trailer that isn't usable as is.  All I could see at this point was dollar signs in our future not enjoyable camping trips.
Third Day: We caulked  all side seems of trailer. Ordered a new refrig and fan vent for bathroom. Also roof vent covers. Had to hire a RV repair guy to caulk and reseal the roof, as we can't go up there anymore. Fixed the roof antenna crank so it goes up and down. But it still won't turn. The RV repair guy found it was chalked around the turning joint.

A week later the refrig was in and working fine. All problems we found were repaired even put a power jack on tong to make things easier for my hubby. So now that we spent all our ready cash on
the purchase and repairs we had to park it for a few months before going camping.

Now winter in Florida is not very cold but to be on the safe side we drained the water lines. While the water lines drained I check out the inside of the trailer and there was this funny smell and cruddy junk all over the place. The stain on the couch was twice as big and this time wet also. Sure enough the slide leaked when it was closed. The cruddy stuff was moldy film on every thing. The slide outs rubber roof had a tear in it. Which caused it to leak when closed. The RV repair guy gave us a quote. There was so much mold damage that the side out and the inside of the trailer would have to be
gutted as the mold was behind the walls at this point. Now the cost for these repairs was half the original cost of the trailer and we still would have a trailer that was delaminating..
Our option was to either repair, junk or trade.
Come back to see what we did.
Follow me to see my blog posts..

Last Leg Home

8:15am We are starting out nice and sunny. Hopefully no delays today. Should make it in by 2pm.
Weather was great today. We arrived around 3pm. Seems we never stay on schedule. It was great to get home.
Before unloading RV and bring the pups inside. We checked  out house. We found a roof leak as there are marks in the bathroom.  Everything esle is okay. 

We got unloaded and went out for dinner.  Nice buffet just down the road from our campground.
Now we will have time just  to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather here in Starke.
Played some a hand and foot with Vinnie and Irene before turning in for the night.
Great to see all our friends again.

Third leg of Journey

Today will be shorter. We will be stopping at Ozark Alabama for the night. Hopefully, that's only around a 6 hour drive. The campground used to be Ozark Travel Park, now it is Ozark KOA.
Really nice park. If you go this way. Very good place to stop.

Well all bets are off. After enduring three different rush hour traffics, one hour of stop and start waiting for an accident clean up and then another half hour just for a lane change caused by a line painter. Our six hour day turned into eight and a half. And worse than that the gas mileage dropped to 5.48 miles per gallon.

Glad we can now relax for night. One more day and we will be home in Starke Florida.

Dog ride easy

First time we did not cage the pups, we even removed the cage door. They like the ride and are content See the pile of pups. Fancy and Daisy at the foot of the engine boot while Mandy is sprawled out in the cage.

Second leg of Journey to Florida

Here it is the second day nice and sunny but still really windy. Just went through the wind fields

First leg of journey home

Here we are stopped for the night in Indiana, a little campground called Caboose Lake. It is an early night for us.
Making a taco casserole/lasagna for supper tonight.
Will head out early next stop TexasT in Tennessee.
It was stop start stop start on Illinois toll way today, they are working on the off ramps this year. Jerry hit a orange barrel but no damage.
Until tomorrow.

Getting ready to head to Florida

Here we are Wednesday we have loaded car onto dolly. Jerry tying down car down and we will be off.
Our site here at Rainbows End looks so empty now. It's 8:50 and we are in the road. We are topping off gas tank in another 10 miles

Sascha won a Ribbon

Saturday was a great day for a miniature horse show. It was really windy but the little horses did well. Sascha won a ribbon while showing The little brown horse.

On the road northward bound

Left Starke KOA just a few minutes ago. It is raining, so it may make for a long day. Will keep you posted.

Repainting the wheel chair ramp

Jerry has been sick for the last few as days. He doesn't have the flue just a really bad head cold. He had planned on finishing the repainting of the wheel chair ramp for our place. But with being sick and the last few days of much needed rain it has been put off for now.
We are slowly getting our spring repair done. Jerry power washed both the decks then painted them before repairing the rail for the wheel chair ramp last week.
Then of course there is the never ending battle of raking the leaves. The oak trees here never loose their leaves in fall. They just continue to come down all year long.

Traveling mood

The KOA is getting empty as many of our friends have headed home. They are all traveling north for the summer some as far as Canada and Maine. With the warmer weather and blue skies the yearning to pack the RV and head down the road gets stronger for us.
But we still have over a month before we head to Rainbow for the summer.
Early prep for travel.
Our tomatoes are planted in pails.
Change to LED bulbs in RV kitchen by table.
Jerry needs to fix wiper as they are 180 degree out. But everything else is ready.
Now here at the house, Jerry has painted both the front and back deck.
We have a few cabbage planted and hopefully they will make through the hot summer with no one around to water every day.
On the breeze there a hint of smoke. Many miles away there is a forest fire that has been a blaze for about a week.
It is a lazy day. The pups are curled up on the couch sound a sleep. Jerry is playing on the laptop

Finished Landscaping for 2011

Finally got all our plants bought for this year.



We add some Texas Sage to the front flower bed. To the right of the front steps.












And at the left of the front steps our Knockout rose bush is still in bloom. They bloom year round. The flower are different shades of pink some of the flowers are light and some are dark.

 We moved our large arborvitae from by the house. Planting it out in the yard as it was hiding the windows.








 Of course it also hid the LP tank.

Now we will need to make a arbor or small fence for  that area. to hid the tank. We planted
 a small arborvitae to replace the large one we moved to the yard and then we added a few mums to balance the space.













Two more small shrub were placed by the wheel chair ramp.

Fall Landscaping

The first week we were home, Jerry cleaned the weeds from the over run flower beds. All the flowers died out over the summer. With no one to water them for 5 months it is hard to expect them to surive. But the shrubs look great, they took the heat and lack of rain quite well.  Of course we don't have a lot of shrubs around our place. Out in the front there are a couple of palm bushes which have actual grown. one knockout rose by the side of the front steps, one very large arborvitae on the south side, a holly and a chinese fringe bush on the north side, two azalea at the edge of the yard which  blooms in early spring.
We will be adding shrubs.
Now the work begins:

Jerry tide up the palm branches so he could  remove the stones from the flower bed. Then he replace the black plastic that was under the stones and reset the boarder stones.









He washed the stones and returned them to the bed.
The lower branches of the palms still need to be trimmed back, as does the knock out rose..











                                                               
We need to add more stone.  Maybe a statue or fountain in the front flower bed. That would fill in the space nicely. We are trying to keep it simple.











The arborvitae on the south side of the house has done well over summer. It actual has grown to large for the spot. It is half up the window. We will be moving it later this season.                                  

                               So as you see we added a couple smaller arborvitae along that side. one to either side of the large one..                                                                      As soon as they are established we will transplant the large one, moving it out into the yard.






We need more shrubs, but this work will have to wait. As does the north side of the house and the space by the wheel chair ramp. This gives us something to so over winter.
The advantage of no snow.

Fall slowly comes to Starke Florida.

Now the trees haven't yet turned here at our winter home in the Starke KOA. And the weather is still very warm but the campground has closed the pool for the winter. That is always a sign that fall is here and winter is just around the corner. Many of the snow bird RV'ers have arrived and soon the park will be filled. Our monthly activities will soon start, with pool/billards, bingo, golf, cards, Saturday breakfasts, tours. holiday meals and cookie ex-changes.

As a surprise our friends, Sid and Jerry Bass decorated our park model's front porch. They filled our pots with bright flowers and little scare crows. The colors makes me fell a little more like fall in Wisconsin.

But nothing can compare to the maple tree at our former home in Silver Cliff Wisconsin. The leaves would turn a bright yellow and would last a full week or more.                                                   

Now our little maple here at our home in Starke which turns deep red in fall, and last for only a few days even that has not happened as of yet.

  So,

to brighten things up we have added some fall decorations to the inside of our little house. We put vines of maple leaves running along the tops of windows and cabinets. And a pumpkin that waits for halloween sit on a stand near the door. Although we only have a few little children here in the park, we pass out candy for trick or treat. So it is nice to decorate.  

Memorys Live On

A tribute to my oldest sister Jean who passed away early this morning.

Over the years she has been an inspiration to us all. Lived through hard times and came through with a smile.

Her baked beans became one dish most requested at all the family gatherings. And no matter how well we follow her recipe it will never quite be the same with out her loving touch.

She was the first of the family to own a motor home. A Winnebago to be exact,  she traveled from coast to coast much like we do today.

She knew her time was near but instead of being sad. She was there to comfort all who will miss her.

And.
We will all greatly miss her. She walks with God now.

Good Bye Jean, my sister, my friend, they say you had a good long life but no matter what is said there is never enough time. I will miss you.

Back in Florida

We made it back on Saturday and finally have time to write.

Nancy cleaned the rig is inside. While Jerry washed and waxed the outside. There were so many love bug stuck to the front, tt took him a few washes to get them all. All this was done before moving the rig to the storage lot.

Jerry spent the next few days weeding around the house.  we assembled our wine rack that we brought back with us this time. But there still are a few things to unpack. Not that we are slow but there are a lot of extras to put away this time.

Now we have sometime to relax. Spent the last few day visiting with our Florida friends.
Had Sid and Jerry Bass over for cards.

Just relaxing and enjoy the warmth.

Trip back to Florida 2011

Our trip home:
September 21st. our first day.
Having said our good byes to Norm Gil the owner of Rainbows End campground in Reedsville and filling our LP for the last time, we head out by 9:45 AM. First gas fill was 9 miles down the road in Branch Wisconsin at the Cenex.  Gas price at the time for regular was $3.69.
So, Windy after only another 4 miles, we had to tape the bedroom window shut. The wind was so strong it stucked the bedroom window open.

Jerry fights the Wind

Jerry said he could do with out the cross wind.
We are riding a bit heavy this trip with all the extras remove from the old fifth wheel. We are not over weight just heavier than usual.
Still making good time even with the construction south of Milwaukee. Our I-Pass helps also, not having to stop at each toll in Illinois.

By 4:30 eastern time we pulled into the Caboose Lake campground. Our site was a nice level pull thru across the road from the lake. The lake sites remained empty so we had a great view of the lake.
We have stayed here before. The girl in the office said we would only get one TV channel. But that was not the case. Our HD TV's  pulled in 7 channels. But our channel of choice was 18.1 which is CBS so we were able to watch all the new season tv shows.

The next morning we filled her up before heading south on I-65 again. The wind is much less than yesterday but still we had a cross wind. By 3:40 PM we had to change a tire on the tow dolly. The tires on the dolly were new, but the force of the wind cause the tire to wear the tread down to the cord. Of course we don't have a jack for the dolly so we had to back the car off the dolly then Jerry proceeds to change the tire. He lifted the dolly by hand and I push a jack stand under the frame. Now this was bad enough but he forget to loosen the lugs first, so we end doing this more than once.
Haven't made much headway after changing the tire. The traffic in and around Nashville was pretty heavey a few accidents and some construction in areas , stop and start and at times came to a complete stand still for a few minutes.
At 5:30 PM we pulled into Texas T campground. An always and easy set up with nice pull thru sites. We watched TV over the air even thought the campground offers free cable TV.  The pictue was so good we didn't need to use the cable. We just relaxed for the night.

Sept 23  Getting late start this morning. Had to stopped at thre different gas stations before finding one that had air.  Jerry fills the tires at Tennessian Truck Stop.

 It rained over night, very cloudy today. Should make for a cooler days ride. There is rain in the forecast but maybe we will drive pass the storm.

 Nancy points out that fall is in the air the shoemack is turning burnt red and all the under brush is starting to die down.  Every so often a few trees show a burst of color, but most arestill green.
The view out the front window is awesome But the camera we brought this time was not quick enough to get the scene before it was gone.

Nancy is starting to miss the fall colors of upper Wisconsin.


Now we are entering Alabama and it is starting to drizzles a little. Maybe we will not miss the storm after all.

We are going to try a different travel park tonight. It 5:20 and we have arrived at the Ozark Travel Park in Alabama.
We checked in and the women from the office lead us to our site.
 It is very nice level pull thru site with a cement drive and patio. On the patio is a nice clean picnic table and a bench for sitting.

There is a nice grassy area between each camp site.



 The bath, shower house and laudromat was a short walk from our site. I found them to emaculate. There was also a nice in ground pool. But as we only were spending the night we didn't use the pool.

There was a pond with water fountain and a water wheel. A play ground was just over the foot bridge. All in all a nice camp ground.













It was a very nice camp ground we will come here again.

It was a nice stay very quiet night.

It is 8 AM a sunny morning. Much warmer than yesterday. We are getting ready to leave Ozark Travel park. this will be the last day of our journey.
It has really gotten warm in the rig.  Sure can tell we are getting close to home. The Florida temperatures have been calling us the the last week that we were in Wisconsin.
It is late afternoon now. We are pulling into the the Starke KOA, that we call home.  Now the unpack will begin.

End to Summer

We are still at our summer camp site in a smaller campground called Rainbows End.  Which is just out side of Reedsville Wisconsin.     Sadly, Our summer stay here is almost over. Now that the weather is cooling, it is sure feels more like fall everyday. We always head back to our winter home late September.

But it sure seems like the summer just flew by this year. We spent time with family, friends, our children and grandchildren. 

Jerry helpped out at the campground building picnic tables and he also mowed down the big field.

And as we down sized this season, Nancy and her two daughters Lynn and Laurie had a rummage sale to get rid of all the extra items.

Fred and Rita, our good friends and card buddies have left Rainbows End for good this year. They sold their rig and bought a condo a few miles away. We plan on staying in touch, but we will miss our weekly card parties. 

Trip to Upper Wisconsin Part Two

It is Friday, the start of the second part of our trip and it is going to be a beautiful day, no rain in sight, just light puffy clouds but otherwise blue skies. 

By 10:30, everyone is pack up and ready to travel to our next campground in Chippewa Falls. It is only about 100 miles down the road. Our two rig caravan heads out. We arrived at O'Neal Creek Campground by one in the afternoon.

O'Neal Creek is quite a large campground. Our site numbers were in the four hundreds. The sites are pull thru, long but very narrow with only water and electric. Now, getting onto the road that lead to our site was a bit tricky, the turns are very tight. So we were instructed to make loops, first we looped around the playground, then we across the main entrance road, then had to take the far loop through the dump station and then again we had across the main entrance road, then a slight left then right and we were finally on the road to our camp sites.

 Jerry relaxes at O'Neal Creek campground
while we waited for Jim and Mary to get their directv dish aligned. Soon we will be heading out to Autumn Harvest Winery. While at the winery we tasted their wines.
Many are made with apple.

A few bottles of wine and a peck of apples later  and we were on the road again with just enough time left this afternoon that we could take the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewery tour. 

Upon arriving at the brewery we each received four tickets for free 5oz beer samples.  Jerry got to try a lot more samples as Nancy doesn't drink beer. While we waited for our tour to start  Mary and Nancy checked out the souvenirs. Then they went to join Jim and Jerry who were relaxing by the fireplace, sipping their first sample of beer.

 Finally it was time for our tour. Our guide gathered our group at the rear door and lead us out of the building. We crossed the river by way of a walking bridge. On the other side of the river stood the brewery and warehouse buildings. Some were the original.  The tour was very interesting. After the tour, it was back to the tasting area where Jerry, Jim and Mary sampled more beers. Nancy wandered through the store again looking for a key chain to purchase as a souvenir.

Then back to the camp ground to relax for the night.

Saturday morning after breakfast we headed over to the town of Eau Claire, where the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp and Museum are located. Inside the museum are artifacts and also displays of the myth of Paul Bunyan and Babe his blue ox.

Out the back of the museum is the entrance to the logging camp its self.
This large statue stands proudly along the path leading to the first logging camp build. We wandered through the building. Each of us wondering what it would be like to live in a log camp. Jerry imagined being the blacksmith in those times.
It sure seemed like a very hard life.

The building are filled with many artifacts from logging camps around the area. Some dated as far back as 1800.

A Truck Show
Jerry spotted a truck show on the way to the logging museum it is right in Eau Claire.

  We stopped to look at the trucks before going for lunch.
The show had quite a few Semi tractors with trailers and other large trucks. All with great paint jobs like the one on the truck in the picture.
After the truck show we stopped at a nice Italian restaurant for lunch.
Relaxing back at the campground. 
We enjoyed a late supper of grilled chicken then played a game stick rummy with Jim and Mary before turning in for the night.
Tomorrow we head back to Rainbows End our summer campground

 

Trip to Upper Wisconsin

 Early morning rain didn't stop us. Although we find it, much harder to load the Escape onto the dolly when the ramps are wet. Took Nancy three tries to get it to go up the ramp and stop on the platform. But finally we got the Escape loaded and secured to the dolly.

 We headed out on Wednesday morning right after the rain. And with in a few hours we met up with Nancy's brother Jim and his wife Mary in the town of Antigo. From there we planned to travel farther north. Our destination is Hayward for a few days  to see the attractions in the area.  The second part of our trip we will traveling on to Chippewa Falls for some of the same.

Shortly after getting on hwy 8,  our two rig caravan stop at the wayside. Which made our three little chihuahua's very happy.

We had a bite to eat before heading back on the road.
Northward bound again, it was right around the town of Prentise that Nancy noticed that the trees are starting to turn. There are swatches of bright reds and oranges peaking out from their foliage. 

Nancy just loves the colors of fall.  But is sad to think what these early colors mean, soon  summer will be over and we will head south to our winter home.  Don't get us wrong, we love our winter home, our friends there and all that Florida has to offer, but we will be leaving our families behind once again.

Sorry back to the subject at hand. We have just pulled into our first campground for this trip. A place called River Road Campground.  Well if you are coming to Hayward Wisconsin for the northwoods camping, fishing and water fun, this is not the place for you. But now if you are like us. Looking for  a place with 50/30 amp service, nice and flat pull through camp sites, great tasting water, friendly owners and close to attractions this is the place to stay. And as Nancy's brother Jim likes his directv it was easy for him to set up their portable dish.

Wednesday afternoon in down town Hayward.

Nancy's brother Jim and his wife Mary

Wedneday afternoon plan is to first stop at the Hook Stone Winery for a little wine tasting.     While in downtown Hayward  we found ourselves clowning around once we spotted this crazy moose chair out front of one of the shops. What a great place for a few snap shots . Then off we went to find Coop's Italian Restaurant for pizza.

Thursday morning we awoke to sunshine, looks like it is going to be a beautiful day for sightseeing. Mary prepares BBQ in the crock pot for tonights meal. 

Musky statue is over 3 storys high

                                       First stop of the day is the Fishing Hall of Fame. Through out the Museum grounds, there are huge cement statues of different species of fish, and off in the distance we see the main statue which is more than 3 storys tall. It is really a building shaped like a huge Musky.

                                                                                                   

Jerry holds his arm up to show the size of the fish statues

Inside the museum itself there are many old lures, roda, reels mounted fish, motors and many great photos of prize winning fish and their fishman. At the base of the large musky statue there is a fishing pool.  Where the guys tried their hand at fishing.

Nancy at entrance to musky statue

And Mary snapped a picture when I stopped on the stairs before entering the Musky Statue.

Funny as I was taking the picture of the guys fish in the pool.

Inside the Musky statue there are three flights of stairs to the mouth.  Wow what a climb.  

But the view makes it well worth all the huffing and puffing that Mary, Jim and Nancy made during the climb. 

 Oh yeah we are all out of shape.

After leaving the fishing museum we stopped at roadside stand to get some sweet corn and tomatoes  for tonights meal. Time to relax a little have some lunch before heading back into Hayward for the lumberjack show this afternoon.

two man saw contest

log rolling contest

log bridge race

2PM and we are heading to the Lumberjack show. We arrive a bit early but the stands sure filled up fast. I took so many pictures it was hard to pick which to load to the blog. The four lumberjacks were very entertaining. They were not what we expected. Everyone always seem to think lumberjack are much older and big burly men. Not so here, young men who have won in the national lumberjack contest. Each has their own specialty of course. It was nice to see them compete against each other.

After the show.

We head back to camp for our even meal of the BBQ and sweet corn.

Good Wine, Good Food, Good Friends

What a nice end to the day!