The temps are getting colder now again. The trip to Tallahassee was easy. We had our morning stop at the Florida Welcome Station. For lunch we ate the rest of the ham and cheese on the rest of the French bread loaf we bought at the Farmers Market in Gulfport behind the gas station where we filled up. It was a lot of chewing but it sure was a good sandwich.
Once we got close to Tallahassee we lost another hour as we got back on Eastern Standard time. The Tallahassee RV Park is on the east side of the city and really nice. We arrived around 3:30. The spaces are not big by any means, or cheap for that matter, but the setting is really nice in the tall pines. There are only 2 toilets/showers for 68 spaces so I guess most plan to use their RV facilities. There were a lot of snow birds there.
Jean and Paul picked us up for dinner around 5:45 and we visited in the RV for a bit then they took us to Ted’s Montana ???. It is owned by Ted Turner and they serve a lot of buffalo in addition to everything else. Bill and I were very happy with our meals. One of the best dinner salads I’ve ever had. We really enjoyed visiting with Paul and Jean. We last saw them both in April when we met in Florala camping, then Jean was down later for a girls get together. Too bad we live so far, they’d be a fun couple to camp with. We’re going to try and get together for a few days when Bill has spring break.
After they dropped us off we watched some TV and read and mentally prepared for the last day on the road. The temp was to be 29 so I made sure I turned the tank heaters on before bed.
December 6 - Last day, BUMMER! Since it wasn’t a long drive we didn’t plan to leave early, Bill wanted to be on the road around 9. It took a little longer to get packed up since he had to drain all the tanks before we could go. We did manage to leave around 8:30 though. It was COLD out for sure.
We stopped mid-morning and it was still pretty cold out. At least the rest area had heat today. At lunch time we stopped at a TA for the last fueling but they didn’t have any spaces we could park in for lunch as they were all back in spaces and I was not going to try that in front of all those truckers. So we pulled in to one further down the road and I parked while Bill went next door to the Kentucky Fried Chicken place. Since I was parked at an angle I looked in the passenger side mirror to make sure I wasn’t sticking out too far in anyone’s way and saw something hanging down from the roof. I got out and the slide cover was unrolled and just hanging there. When Bill walked up he noticed it right away. It was not like that we filled up so it must have just sprung. Well, this place wasn’t ideal for opening the slides and working on it so we went across the street where there was a big truck service place and plenty of space so we pulled along the fence, ate our lunch then discussed our plan of action. We had a ladder with us but would need two if we had to hand roll the cover up so I thought we could borrow one from the garage. Then I looked over there and they had 2 of those huge rolling ladders. We went in and asked if we could use them and they said OK, just don’t fall off. Duh! So we wheeled them over to the side and decided it was sprung and would not stay rolled so I got a utility knife and cut it off of the roller, then we slid the other end out of its bracket, folded it up, rolled the ladders back over and headed on down the highway! Once we get settled in I will call our mobile service guy who installed them and see if he can use the old cover if I get it re-stitched and have him order what parts he thinks it will need.
From there it was less than an hour to Winter Garden where we went by the warehouse to weigh the RV. I need to check the numbers but I think we’re about 2,000 under the loaded limit, so that is good. Then we came home and I pulled in the driveway and left it for Kurt to come back in the space after work. We emptied the fridge and freezer and most of the clothes and linens. Molly was so happy to get out on the porch again. She must have gone out 10 times but didn’t stay long since it was cold and getting colder.
We arrived home to several dilemmas. There was no water, no heat, no phone, the garage door opener was only working from the pad, no electric along one wall in the living room, no direct TV….. Yikes! Should have stayed on the road! I discovered someone had turned the water off outside, so that was easy. Once I checked the overflow pan under the AC/Heater unit, I checked the breaker and it was off, so I was relieved to hear it kick on once I flipped the switch. Bill called Direct TV and an hour later that was working. Funny thing about the phone, the internet was working but not the phone but I left it for Tuesday. I also realized I forgot to call State Farm to activate the coverage on the van and Bill’s truck, so that was a do first thing in the morning item. I did 3 loads of wash and yippee, the washer and dryer both worked. Bill hooked the batteries up to the vehicles and both started so that was another plus.
Kurt came to back it in and for a while it went well, then it happened. The truck got stuck like it did the last time. So the RV is way back in and needs to just be turned to the right and pulled forward but that will have to wait til Kurt can bring the Bobcat over to pull it out. Then Bill is renting a tamper to pack the new gravel down. It’s always something!
Now to get ready for Christmas and start planning our next adventure.
Thanks to all my family and friends for keeping up with us! I hope you enjoyed looking at our 800 photos!
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