Early termination and final trip to the Keys

Got all hooked up this morning and was starting to head for the next campground in FT Lauderdale when my phone rang. It was my friend Joel from Florida Bay Outfitters telling me I had two kayak tours this week if I was back down. I told him I would be and we canceled going anywhere but straight down to the keys. So that is the end of the trip. We made it in a short run, 140 miles and are now all set up for the next 5 or 6 months. Things were pretty good at the Elks and right now it seems like we never left. The pictures below are of Lynda looking out towards Lake Okeechobee. So till the Magic Bus rolls again we close. David

Leaving Tampa for Lake Okeechobee

Waited around for a bit in the morning for the Tiffin Tech to show up to look at our one hatch cover that has a slight leak. We had to leave at 11 am so never got to see him, spoke to Bob Tiffin about it and we will email him a picture of the door so he can build a new one and ship it as he said he would. No big deal. Drove over to the east coast of Florida using back roads and it was a nice ride. Only around 160 miles or so. We set up in another Passport America campground for a couple of days in Clewiston. We plan to go to Ft. Lauderdale for a few days after to see the ocean. This place is full of Quebec folks escaping the north. The lady that runs it says in the season 75% of the campers are French Canadian. Wow. Lynda speaks it a bit but I'm at a loss. I remember up in Lake Placid how they came across the border to my sister Jackie's motel. Anyway I'm sort of in a funk. Don't really like south Florida at all and miss traveling. Kind of wish we could continue out west somewhere instead of planting ourselves for so many months. But I guess it's great not being cold. Isn't it? The French folks play boccie ball behind our camper and you can see them in the picture behind our Magic Bus. Glad right now to be in our camper. We will take a ride in a bit to check out the area and to get a watch battery at where else, Wal Mart. Trying to stall a little before heading to Keys as there is a large bunch of campers staying there now that are heading to a rally after. They no doubt have overrun the place as they know each other and I'm cringing at having to arrive in the middle of that. They should be almost gone by the time we get there I hope. Sharla and Jon I'm sure you can relate to what I'm feeling me being so "Type A".

No the first picture is not Lake Placid New York, maybe that's why there are so many Frenchy's they followed the signs.

Full day at Rally

Didn't get to post yesterday about the full day we spent at Rally. First off in the morning I took off to George Steinbrenner, alias Legends field, where the Yankees have their winter headquarters and bought some T shirts of the Championship. I mailed one to Justin and one to David and wore mine proudly all day. I later went to a question and answer tech thing with Tiffin about problems people have with their coach's. It was informative and I got a few things out of it. Later Lynda and I went to the BBQ dinner with entertainment. It was just great. The ribs and chicken were prepared dry with spices but the sweet sauce was on the side so I could eat them. They were so good. Along with salad, corn, toasted thick buttered bread, and desert which Lynda said was great, they had open bar. All the beer, wine, ice tea you could drink for the whole night. I noticed several types of beer and wine also. Lynda enjoyed the wine. The entertainment was a Chap playing keyboard and singing who was really good. We met some nice folks at the table and had a nice time. Well worth the money.

Pics of Yankee spring training camp in tampa, and a Teddy I wanted to buy Lynda. Ha.

Lazy Day at Lazy Days

Woke up early and biked over for some breakfast but there wasn't much I could eat. Did the usual peaking at all the stuff in Camping Word and then biked back to Lynda. Her I and I went shopping then to a talk by the Tiffin coach folks and Bob Tiffin on the history of the company. I had seen and talked to him earlier when I was biking around and he is sending a tech tomorrow to deal with the leak we have in our storage bin. One of the pics is of me with Bob Tiffin. Old Pals. How many companies could you do that with the owner. Had a dinner and DJ music later in the evening and met some nice folks. We also looked at a bunch of new coaches again. Oh the Rally bag had two coffee mugs, schedule, tickets for food, and name badges along with some catalogs. Check the picture of me with our new Tow car. Getting some good information from other owners about different experiences, problems, etc. Now watching Yanks. David

Congratulations NEW YORK YANKEES World Champions

On to Lazy Days by Tampa FL

Small ride today. Took our time leaving this morning. Lynda went off with the telephoto camera to try and get some pics of the Eagles but they were out hunting and she couldn't get a good one. We hooked up and jumped right on route 4 west for a short 122 mile ride to Lazy Days RV dealer right out side of Tampa FL. This RV dealer is the largest in the world and where we are going to attend a Tiffin Motor home rally. It will be our first rally but we have heard they are good. The cost for three days with meals, tax, entertainment, seminars and site is $211. Not bad I say. Read this morning about the economy getting to Lazy Days as they filed for bankruptcy in Sept. It said they will still be around just restructured. Tough times for the recreational vehicle industry, many companies have gone down. Some pictures of today. The city picture is of Orlando, Mouse land highway sign. Smiley Lynda, and me on bike by the Magic Bus in Lazy Days. Tomorrow we will see what's up with the rally. We claim our rally bag what ever that is then. We did look at some new rigs today but I'm afraid look is all this pair will do unless we hit the lottery. We are grateful we have our "Magic Bus" besides Lynda loves her desk and chair in the bedroom and they don't offer that anymore. If we hit the lottery I will have to have a coach customized with that feature. David

The Sunshine State

Finally we got off early even though I was beat from staying up watching the Yankee game. We got out at 930am. Did a bit over 300 miles and ended up in Daytona Beach. We have stopped at this campsite many times and it goes for $18 a night. Lynda really loves the fact that it has the largest group of Eagles we have ever seen together. On our walk today we saw over a half a dozen. One of the pictures shows several in a tree and one in the air. We are concerned that the campground we are in is growing by leaps and bounds and might infringe on them. There is over 250 sites and tonight they are just about full. Many many snow birds and also a lot of people from Canada. Their dollar is doing great against ours at least compared to the past. The city in the picture above is Jacksonville. Nice sky line. Tomorrow on to Tampa for a Tiffin rally, the folks that made our Magic Bus. Go Yanks.

Into the Deep South

Lord did it rain last night. I lost my view of the world series and had to continue on my Blackberry but the Yanks won. We left at 1038am and did about 325 miles today through the mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. Nice country. Should have been quiet on a Sunday but there was a bunch of traffic. Passed a huge pile up of wrecked cars at one point. The rain slicked roads can cause an accident. Glad it was on the other side of the road and we just got slowed up by rubbernecking. Filled up in NC for $2.61/gal. Lynda did the math and we got about 11 miles per gallon. That's not bad towing a car with two boats on the roof and dealing with the many mountain upgrades.

Got to Shumanns RV park here in Canaby South Carolina by 430 pm and he was there waiting. We filled up the propane as I like to give the old chap some business. When I called I asked for a site that had no trees to block the satellite and he had put a reserved sign on our site. I had to help him with the propane as his sight is going and he couldn't see the gauge. I don't know how old he is but it's up there. We have been coming here for years and his price for full hook ups with 50 amp is only $15 a night, not bad. We are right across the street from a state park that is really nice. It is on a river with plenty of cypress trees and Spanish moss. Tomorrow we should make it to Florida for another night stay before heading into Tampa. So far enjoying the trip a lot. David