Our last day before starting “work”. We work 8:30 to 5:30 tomorrow. I sure hope we like it or it’s going to be a really long summer. We attempted to sign for our keys this AM but the person we were to see was not in today. We headed into “town” so I could order prints of my Europe trip while they had a sale on at Walgreens. We stopped at Publix to fill our water jugs and pick up some fruit. Should have gotten some veggies too but will go again this week to pick up my photos.
We also stopped at the campground on Tybee Island to get the name of a mobile RV service guy. We have some concerns about how the front level legs are performing so I called and he said he could make it out later this afternoon. After lunch I went to our VIP room to put some overflow fruit in the fridge there and grow old using dial up service. It was OK when I was able to chat on line with Kerry and Kam to pass the time, but they actually had to get off from chatting and work so then I was getting tired and bored. Managed to post a couple of days of blogs and label our photos from this trip, pay a bill online and catch up on some of the email that didn’t have large attachments. Those take as much as 15 minutes to load.
I rode my bike over so rode back when I had to go to the bathroom and went back until time to come home and put meatloaf in the oven. Bill called the RV guy as he hadn’t come yet and he said he was still heading our way. Of course he pulled in just as we sat down to eat our meatloaf, baked potatoes and steamed carrots. He didn’t find a problem with the legs other than the battery was overheating and they could barely get it out because it was so hot. The RV guy said he couldn’t tell for sure if it was the battery or the converter but the battery was shot. So I guess we will be going to town tomorrow night after a quick dinner to get a new one. If it starts overheating then it should be the converter. At least we aren’t going anywhere for a while so can get it resolved before driving it.
Once he left we finished dinner and took Xena for a long walk. Then we got on our bikes and road up to the Fort and all the way around it. We’d never seen the side where, all the damage was done by the Yankees during the Civil War except in the video about the fort. There are still some cannon balls in the wall. They have rebuilt parts but have left some that is not a safety hazard like it was for historical reasons. On the way back we saw a number of deer and one of the Coast Guard guys running. We stopped to get ice but we had the wrong set of keys. Luckily I had two trays in the freezer. Bill did the dishes while I showered and got my uniform ready for tomorrow. I noticed he had his out and ready also and I set the alarm. At least we don’t have a lot of driving time!
Jared called tonight and had a nice chat. I did our expenses and wrote a few post cards. Will try to look up a couple of addresses for Bill to finish his. Hope we have a good day tomorrow!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
May 30 - Memorial Day Cook Out
Bill had said he was getting up at 7:30 to wash the front of the RV but Xena woke him at 6 so he came back to bed and we got up at 8. I told him we needed to cut back so only fixed scrambled eggs, fruit and a piece of toast for him and I passed on the toast but had some feta cheese in my eggs. While he washed the RV I made a peach/jello pie for dinner. We invited Chuck and MJ, our neighbors over to cookout as they had to work today. She seemed very excited for the invite so I’m sure we’ll have a nice time.
We hung our patriotic lanterns and I got out my table cloths and red, white and blue napkins and plates. We also hung our bird feeder so will see if we get any new pets. There was a raccoon or armadillo behind the RV that raced into the woods before I could see it.
I took the couch cover over to put in the dryer to get the animal hair off and I stepped back in time as I attempted to work the DIAL UP computer service. Geez, I had to take some time just to figure out how to set up the laptop and get the right numbers. I did manage it and it works fine for just regular emails, but any downloading is grueling. I called AOL to see what my hours limit is and found I have unlimited so at least I can use it all I want. It’s hot in the laundry room and was better to leave the door open. Checking out all my options to stay connected to the outside world!
Our dinner guests arrived on time and Bill grilled brats, turkey burgers and hamburgers to go with the things I had prepared. We had a nice visit before eating and then came inside as MJ really wanted to see the RV. She wants a 5th wheel. They left about 9 as they had worked all day and have to work tomorrow also. We cleaned up and watched a bit of TV.
I took the couch cover over to put in the dryer to get the animal hair off and I stepped back in time as I attempted to work the DIAL UP computer service. Geez, I had to take some time just to figure out how to set up the laptop and get the right numbers. I did manage it and it works fine for just regular emails, but any downloading is grueling. I called AOL to see what my hours limit is and found I have unlimited so at least I can use it all I want. It’s hot in the laundry room and was better to leave the door open. Checking out all my options to stay connected to the outside world!
May 29 - Checking Out Our Locale
I made Bill his regular Sunday breakfast. We cleaned up and went to see Ron at the visitor center to get our shirts. He was out at the entrance booth so we went out and met him and visited a bit. He called Patty, another ranger, and asked her to meet us to give us our shirts. So we drove back to the visitor center only to find that Patty could not be there then and said to meet her at noon. We said we’d be back but didn’t think it would be by noon as we were going in to Wal-mart so Bill could get his prescriptions transferred to here.
The traffic going against us was really backed up for as late as it was going to the beach. We expected it to be cleared up by the time we left. He dropped me off at McDonald’s to send some email and try to do some posting but they didn’t have any outlets and I ran out of battery. Bill went to Publix and got us a Sunday paper and we had some drinks while I used up my battery power. We checked out another road that I was told had stores and an ACE Hardware on it. I went it to look for a carpet piece to put under Xena’s pen. It’s a really big ACE, just about as big at the one in Tucson. No luck on the carpet so ducked into the Dollar Tree next door. Found some small cotton rugs I could sew together to use til we find something else. The traffic was still jammed so luckily we turn into the park long before the line ends. As luck would have it, Patty was still not available to sign out shirts to us and left word for us to come back at 4. Rather than come and her still not be there, we left my cell number for her to call when she was there. We asked why the traffic is so bad so late on a “going to the beach” day. The answer was because it’s so expensive to park at Tybee Island that people only go for a couple of hours, so the traffic comes and goes all day on weekends and during holidays. Bill had remembered seeing signs for parking for $15 an hour. If we go it will be during the week when we can find meter parking. I sewed the rugs and we let Xena spent some time in her pen.
I made the potato salad for tomorrow while Bill watched TV. Then I sat outside and read the paper and clipped some coupons and enjoyed the breeze from the water. Patty called about 5, knew it wouldn’t be 4, so we headed back to the visitor center. They seem to be the most unorganized bunch but everyone is really nice. Very laid back atmosphere here. We both got our green shirts. They were supposed to give us one shirt each, according to other volunteers, but I asked if we could each have 2. It’s hard to work 4 days straight and only have 1 shirt to wear. She said sure so I got 2 golf shirts and Bill got a golf shirt and a button up shirt. His golf shirt didn’t have a Ft Pulaski patch on it so she gave us one that I sewed on after supper.
For dinner we had our leftovers from Tortugas with a nice salad. It was just as good heated back up.
After taking Xena for a nice walk and checking out the laundry room, we road about 2 miles on the trails to an old pier and to the visitor center and around a high embankment and back. Some of the trails I can see would be really spooky at night. Reminds me of home. I sat out and finished reading the paper and 3 deer crossed right in front of me. Too bad I didn’t have my camera handy. They just kinda looked at me and once I called for Bill they sped up.
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| Our yard ornaments |
I made the potato salad for tomorrow while Bill watched TV. Then I sat outside and read the paper and clipped some coupons and enjoyed the breeze from the water. Patty called about 5, knew it wouldn’t be 4, so we headed back to the visitor center. They seem to be the most unorganized bunch but everyone is really nice. Very laid back atmosphere here. We both got our green shirts. They were supposed to give us one shirt each, according to other volunteers, but I asked if we could each have 2. It’s hard to work 4 days straight and only have 1 shirt to wear. She said sure so I got 2 golf shirts and Bill got a golf shirt and a button up shirt. His golf shirt didn’t have a Ft Pulaski patch on it so she gave us one that I sewed on after supper.
For dinner we had our leftovers from Tortugas with a nice salad. It was just as good heated back up.
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| Deer leaving our site |
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
May 28 - Checking Out Tybee Island
I took a sleep aid last night and boy I slept well. Didn’t wake up til 9 and as soon as my feet hit the floor Kam called. We had a nice chat and then I made buckwheat pancakes and turkey bacon with fruit and an egg over easy for Bill for breakfast. Our neighbor, Mary Jane stopped over to tell us about a festival in Savannah but we needed to go for finger printing and to the library so I could print some emailed forms.
Once we showered and dressed we headed to Tybee. I had checked about the post office and found it was open til 1 so I bubble wrapped Dell and wrote a note to Jeff and Ryan at West Orlando Custom Build about how ill Dell was. I was hoping for a priority mail box her size but there wasn’t one. The super nice postman found a box they had received supplies in and gave it to me with some old newspaper so I got Dell boxed and sent. Good thing I brought Toby and he’s performing well.
Next was going back to the police station to get fingerprinted. I made sure I told the dispatcher that we were there yesterday but sent home in lieu of another person who came in AFTER us. He got someone there immediately and he was super nice. He asked we wanted to write up a complaint about the officer yesterday. We declined but I got the impression he’d had trouble with that officer and wanted more official ammunition. He said the officer was wrong not to take care of us first since the other guy was not an emergency. Bill took forever to to his prints as his right hand looks like it’s missing a lot of swirls on his fingers. Then the officer let us see inside the jail cells, they have 4. They still have the barred doors like in the old west. The two big cells housed 4 and had a block wall with a shower stall and a half block wall with a stainless steel toilet. The 2 other cells were smaller for those needing isolation. That was a highlight for Bill to see the jail. It’s a very small police station and he said they expected a big weekends of drunk partiers.
The library didn’t open til 2 so we checked out the crowds along the mail road that is the closest to the beach and found a place for a light lunch. We both had salads but mine was blackened mahi mahi and Bill stuck with chicken. We shared an order of hush puppies.
By now the library was open and they have 6 computers available to use and we got in before the crowd so could have at least 30 minutes and then they ask you to give up to someone waiting. I only needed their computer to print from so we each did our email and Bill got to check on the Indians and we both printed a few things. Bill printed our work schedule for next week. He’s getting trained in the Visitor Center and as a Guide. I am getting trained at the Entrance Station and Visitor Center. I did learn from one of the other volunteers that there is DSL in the Entrance Station and once we get our keys we can go in and use it after closing. Maybe if I’m working out there I can take Dell or Toby and use it when I don’t have a guest.
We were going to Staples but thought we better get back and check on the pets and we’d go in that direction for dinner and then to Staples and check out what else it out that way. As we turned into the RV section there was a female deer grabbing a snack by our neighbor’s RV. There were also people fishing on the water in front of us so we need to check on licenses and what kind of bait we’re going to need. Bill’s gonna have to get used to eating more fish, ha, ha!
I thought we could maybe improve on the cooling of the fridge by putting pieces of the window foil that we use on top of the slide under the slide cover. These fridges just don’t perform well in the heat and it’s only going to get worse here. I took photos of the bad tires as I looked up a phone number to try for them on Tuesday to see about getting reimbursement. We put out our little American flag and watered the plants. My tomato plant is blooming like crazy and we got two more ripe ones today. They’re only grape tomatoes but at least it’s here instead of Ocoee. I used some of my basil in the spaghetti sauce last night.
Once we showered and dressed we headed to Tybee. I had checked about the post office and found it was open til 1 so I bubble wrapped Dell and wrote a note to Jeff and Ryan at West Orlando Custom Build about how ill Dell was. I was hoping for a priority mail box her size but there wasn’t one. The super nice postman found a box they had received supplies in and gave it to me with some old newspaper so I got Dell boxed and sent. Good thing I brought Toby and he’s performing well.
Next was going back to the police station to get fingerprinted. I made sure I told the dispatcher that we were there yesterday but sent home in lieu of another person who came in AFTER us. He got someone there immediately and he was super nice. He asked we wanted to write up a complaint about the officer yesterday. We declined but I got the impression he’d had trouble with that officer and wanted more official ammunition. He said the officer was wrong not to take care of us first since the other guy was not an emergency. Bill took forever to to his prints as his right hand looks like it’s missing a lot of swirls on his fingers. Then the officer let us see inside the jail cells, they have 4. They still have the barred doors like in the old west. The two big cells housed 4 and had a block wall with a shower stall and a half block wall with a stainless steel toilet. The 2 other cells were smaller for those needing isolation. That was a highlight for Bill to see the jail. It’s a very small police station and he said they expected a big weekends of drunk partiers.
The library didn’t open til 2 so we checked out the crowds along the mail road that is the closest to the beach and found a place for a light lunch. We both had salads but mine was blackened mahi mahi and Bill stuck with chicken. We shared an order of hush puppies.
By now the library was open and they have 6 computers available to use and we got in before the crowd so could have at least 30 minutes and then they ask you to give up to someone waiting. I only needed their computer to print from so we each did our email and Bill got to check on the Indians and we both printed a few things. Bill printed our work schedule for next week. He’s getting trained in the Visitor Center and as a Guide. I am getting trained at the Entrance Station and Visitor Center. I did learn from one of the other volunteers that there is DSL in the Entrance Station and once we get our keys we can go in and use it after closing. Maybe if I’m working out there I can take Dell or Toby and use it when I don’t have a guest.
We were going to Staples but thought we better get back and check on the pets and we’d go in that direction for dinner and then to Staples and check out what else it out that way. As we turned into the RV section there was a female deer grabbing a snack by our neighbor’s RV. There were also people fishing on the water in front of us so we need to check on licenses and what kind of bait we’re going to need. Bill’s gonna have to get used to eating more fish, ha, ha!
I thought we could maybe improve on the cooling of the fridge by putting pieces of the window foil that we use on top of the slide under the slide cover. These fridges just don’t perform well in the heat and it’s only going to get worse here. I took photos of the bad tires as I looked up a phone number to try for them on Tuesday to see about getting reimbursement. We put out our little American flag and watered the plants. My tomato plant is blooming like crazy and we got two more ripe ones today. They’re only grape tomatoes but at least it’s here instead of Ocoee. I used some of my basil in the spaghetti sauce last night.
May 27 - Settling In At Ft. Pulaski
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| My grape tomato plant travelled well and at least we're getting some fresh home grown tomatoes |
I thought I would sleep really well but I had such a headache when I went to bed that I didn’t sleep well at all. I set the alarm just to test it for when we have to get up for “work”. It did fine. While I got breakfast Bill was out putting the slide stabilizers on and getting things out and ready to set up. We put out the cactus and the carpet and rope lights. Put the table and bench covers on, our clothesline up and out grill table and grill out. Bad news for today, when Bill took the bikes off the truck the sprocket on my bike was bent pretty bad. I called a place on Tybee Island and he said they break when you try to bend them back and because I have Murray, it would not be worth it to fix, to just go to Walmart and buy a new one for $90. So we took a hammer to it and then pliers and put the chain back on and it does a bit of a click sound but seems to be fine.
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| One of the ships/barges passing in front of our spot |
It was 6 by the time we got home so Bill put the groceries in the RV while I walked Xena, then I made Italian sausage meatballs with sauce and spaghetti and salad for dinner. Bill was pleased. We folded the last load of laundry then Bill watched TV and I started my journal for the last 2 days.
Monday, May 30, 2011
May 26 - The Day From Hell
What started out to be a smooth sailing day, suddenly went bad. For maybe the first time we set a departure time and made it, 8:00. We got up at 6:30 and were pulling out and waving goodbye to one of our favorite campgrounds and to some of the nicest people we’ve met and headed to Savannah, GA. We will be volunteering at Ft. Pulakski National Monument on the coast outside of Savannah for June and July. That should be an adventure in itself. We planned to check in with the volunteer coordinator by 4.
We were on track until close to noon. 2 guys in a pickup pulled up beside me and we indicating a problem. I thought on our morning pit stop we had left something open or unsecured, so we immediately pulled over. The guys pulled in ahead of us and said there was smoke coming from our driver side RV tires. The men all looked and thought it was either tires or wheel bearings. They said there was an exit about 6 miles up the road and they would follow with their roof lights flashing and to go no more than 40 – 45 mph. We exited at Johanna, SC. I have to say, that was the longest 6 miles I’ve ever driven. As soon as we got off the exit there was a closed gas station we could pull into. The guys pulled and they all looked and by now the tires had swelled up and were actually rubbing together and they figured that was causing the smoke. Across the street was a closed café and an open gas station. We were discussing our roadside assistance when we all looked directly in front of us and there was an oasis in the desert, a Goodyear Road Service garage. The guys said they didn’t know it was there. Bill walked over and caught the owner as he was leaving for lunch so he came over and said it wasn’t the bearings but the tires. So we thanked our good Samaritans and slowly drove over to the Goodyear. The good news was he could fix the problem, the bad news was he only had one tire to fit our RV. So we had him put the spare on and we put the bad tires that only had 12,000 miles on them in the bathroom in the RV. Yuck, it smelled like burnt rubber.
He told us in the next town, Newberry, SC was about 16 miles and they had a Goodyear store so we pulled into his lot and ate a quick lunch and took the back road to Newberry. Those were the nicest people. We put Molly in her carrier and Xena on the leash and waited inside while they put 4 new Firestone tires on, since they didn’t have any of the size Goodyear we needed. They moved the new Goodyear to the spare. With our last tire experience, we felt if 2 had separated belts it would not be long before the other two had separated belts so we went ahead and got 4. Now we had 4 tires in the bathroom. I plan to at least get compensation for the 2 bad ones. So we ended up calling ahead to the park and letting our contact, Ron Calhoun, know that we would be there pretty late. He gave us the gate code and instructions of where our spot would be to park and who to see the next day.
Luckily we had some water and snacks still in the truck so we only stopped for fuel and headed on to Savannah. It was about 8 when we pulled into our camping spot. It’s considered the new VIP (volunteers in park) campground and has 4 spots, all with full hookup, concrete pad, picnic table and bench. Really it’s a nice place. We are directly across from the Coast Guard Station and a short walk to the water. We can see the barges and boats coming and going.
We did what we had to in setting up and I microwaved us 2 Smart One dinners. I was beat. We were on the road 12 hours. Our one set of neighbors came over to meet us. They will only be here another week and a half. There are 2 other single men and one had to go home for a medical emergency and the other is on his time off. There is another couple in the old spots who are leaving on Sunday. There is no outside lighting so it’s good thing we have our rope lights and cactus to put out.
On the way in we saw 6 deer in front of the administrative office and an armadillo at our sight.
It was really not a good day, but we were safe and blessed that those guys stopped us or things could have gotten really bad for us.
We were on track until close to noon. 2 guys in a pickup pulled up beside me and we indicating a problem. I thought on our morning pit stop we had left something open or unsecured, so we immediately pulled over. The guys pulled in ahead of us and said there was smoke coming from our driver side RV tires. The men all looked and thought it was either tires or wheel bearings. They said there was an exit about 6 miles up the road and they would follow with their roof lights flashing and to go no more than 40 – 45 mph. We exited at Johanna, SC. I have to say, that was the longest 6 miles I’ve ever driven. As soon as we got off the exit there was a closed gas station we could pull into. The guys pulled and they all looked and by now the tires had swelled up and were actually rubbing together and they figured that was causing the smoke. Across the street was a closed café and an open gas station. We were discussing our roadside assistance when we all looked directly in front of us and there was an oasis in the desert, a Goodyear Road Service garage. The guys said they didn’t know it was there. Bill walked over and caught the owner as he was leaving for lunch so he came over and said it wasn’t the bearings but the tires. So we thanked our good Samaritans and slowly drove over to the Goodyear. The good news was he could fix the problem, the bad news was he only had one tire to fit our RV. So we had him put the spare on and we put the bad tires that only had 12,000 miles on them in the bathroom in the RV. Yuck, it smelled like burnt rubber.
He told us in the next town, Newberry, SC was about 16 miles and they had a Goodyear store so we pulled into his lot and ate a quick lunch and took the back road to Newberry. Those were the nicest people. We put Molly in her carrier and Xena on the leash and waited inside while they put 4 new Firestone tires on, since they didn’t have any of the size Goodyear we needed. They moved the new Goodyear to the spare. With our last tire experience, we felt if 2 had separated belts it would not be long before the other two had separated belts so we went ahead and got 4. Now we had 4 tires in the bathroom. I plan to at least get compensation for the 2 bad ones. So we ended up calling ahead to the park and letting our contact, Ron Calhoun, know that we would be there pretty late. He gave us the gate code and instructions of where our spot would be to park and who to see the next day.
Luckily we had some water and snacks still in the truck so we only stopped for fuel and headed on to Savannah. It was about 8 when we pulled into our camping spot. It’s considered the new VIP (volunteers in park) campground and has 4 spots, all with full hookup, concrete pad, picnic table and bench. Really it’s a nice place. We are directly across from the Coast Guard Station and a short walk to the water. We can see the barges and boats coming and going.
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| Our site in Ft. Pulaski |
On the way in we saw 6 deer in front of the administrative office and an armadillo at our sight.
It was really not a good day, but we were safe and blessed that those guys stopped us or things could have gotten really bad for us.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
May 25 -Our Last Day IN Cherokee
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| Our new window decal |
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| Out in the middle of the river |
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| The RV's Along the river |
We took Xena for her last long walk until tomorrow night. Watching some NCIS reruns, early day tomorrow.
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