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| "From Darrell's Chair" Archives |
| This page will be used to share my thoughts
with you as I sit in my chair and contemplate the daily events that take place during our fulltiming journey.
Hopefully
you will enjoy the entries, learn a thing or two, and have some
chuckles along the way as Judy and I continue "Wandering America". |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009
Our next to the last w*rk week ended with a thud. It was a rainy, and I mean rainy, Saturday so I was in Honey Bear's Store for the morning and came home at noon time - done for the day. The tubing was canceled, the boats were on call, the pedal carts sat idle, and there weren't very many visitors (customers) in Honey Bear's Store. Miss Judy helped set up the Pirate activities in the Rec Hall (originally scheduled for the beach) and w*rked that activity. She was home fairly early as well. At least we were not entirely worn out and felt like heading to bed without dinner. We actually went out for pizza and later strolled over to the Grill for a soft served ice cream on a Saturday night even (our Friday night). Since I had the afternoon off I continued running tests on the batteries. They are weak but still quite functional. It took them over three and a half hours to go from 12.92 volts to 11.91 volt reading while running twelve lights. I will need to replace them but can at least wait until spring time. That will give me time to get the inverter installed before spending money on batteries. I've decided to buy a combination inverter/charger unit instead of separate units (thanks Bob). It's an Xantrex Freedom 1800 HF inverter/charger that will supply all of our needs for years to come (we are not big boondockers and only stay over without shore power several times a year). Today we have errands to run and will continue readying ourselves for departure a week from Tuesday. Tomorrow we are going over to Vermont to visit Allan and Jeanne at Gifford State Park (they are workamping there until October). Other than that we are doing the same ol', same ol' with thoughts of Wandering on our minds. Until next time - - - - Saturday, August 29, 2009 We have some computer wooklahs, as Molly calls them. Yesterday morning, as I was laying in bed thinking about getting up, I hear, "Oh no! Don't tell me that! Why won't this thing work?" Along with that I was also hearing, "No Alex! Alex, leave that alone! Alex stop it, I have enough problems!" So figured I had better get myself downstairs and see what's going on. The problem was that Judy's computer had given her the "low battery" alert so she adjusted the power cord thinking that maybe it had come unplugged from the computer or the wall. However, that was not the issue - the issue was that somehow over a period of time her adapter cord became all kinked up and the kinking has caused the cord to break thereby rendering it useless for supplying power to said computer resulting in the "Oh No!" dialog above. By the way, the Alex part of the dialog was prompted when Judy was adjusting the cord he thought it was a new toy and kept pouncing on it. I went on line and found a USB Phone World's website with very reasonable prices. A new power adapter was priced at $24 (a year ago I spent around $60 for an adapter for my Gateway). Also, they had replacement batteries for her computer for $52 so I went ahead and bought a new battery as well (her battery only lasts about 14 minutes). For $21 more I got a three day delivery date (we don't share computers very well and that's cheap to keep peace in the livingroom). Hopefully the $97 in upgrades will keep the computer running for another year or two (it's three years old so it's a crap shoot). Miss Judy has her computer set up the way she likes it and doesn't like the idea of having to move to another platform (i.e. Vista). Speaking of spending money, I went ahead and purchased some upgrades for our WIFI hot spot. I purchased a Verizon "Air Card" and a new Cradlepoint CTR 500 router. Basically, I got the air card free (after rebate) and the activation waved and I got the router for $114.95 with a $25 dollar rebate. There was no shipping fee on the Verizon stuff but I had to pay a $13 shipping fee for the router so total out of pocket cost will be $103. Well, other than spending $200 we have been w*rking; after today we will have one week left. I still have to finish the fender skirt installation but other than that it's just a matter of packing things away for getting on the road again. I will need to spend a few hours outside putting the bikes back on the rack, packing the patio "stuff" away, putting up the awning, and unhooking the rig from the "shore" hook ups. We'll be leaving here on Tuesday morning (September 8th), weather permitting, and making a bee line for Freeport, Maine where we'll hang out for about a week before going to Belfast. Once I get to Belfast I plan to finish the repairs on the washer/dryer and work on the 2009 travelogues. Basically, our time in Maine will be spent resting and relaxing and getting our "fulltimining mindset" back. There are going to be lots of changes in the workamping program here at LGE for next year. Some of them will be a good thing, however, other changes will make it more inconvenient for the workampers. Therefore, we are glad that this will be our last year here. When we first went fulltime we had not planned to return to the same place year after year but LGE had a decent workamping plan for us. First of all, I don't care for doing maintenance w*rk and Judy doesn't care for "front desk" activities. That made "Fun and Games" a good fit for us and there are not many campgrounds that have a recreation department like LGE. Further, we've gotten a free full hook up site with cable tv, paid for all hours w*rked, and gotten a bonus at the end of the season. So, all in all, this workamping assignment has met our needs and gotten us through to retirement. Now we are ready to move on and write a new chapter in our lives so in 2010, God willing, we will be Wandering America! Tuesday, August 25, 2009 Today we're giving our two week notice. Yep folks, two more weeks of w*rking then we're free as a bird. The truck is panting and almost ready to go (just needs an oil change). The house looks as if it was called for and couldn't go but it will be packed and ready to roll in two weeks. The girl and I have been talking about our traveling plans for this fall; where we'll go, where we'll stay, those sort of things. We are going to Maine to rest and relax for three weeks and make the repairs to the washer/dryer. Then we'll begin traveling out west, New Hampstir that is, to visit kids and do Christmas shopping. When you're in Maine everything is out west!! While in New Hampstir I will go to Camping World to pick up a new converter/charger, a new thermostat, and possibly a new 1750 watt inverter. I may have to buy some new batteries as well; we're still checking that one out. The great thing about New Hampstir is that there is no sales tax so it's like getting a 7% discount. I still like to do my shopping on the internet first to make sure that I'm getting a good price as Camping World is not always price competitive. I can install all that electrical stuff when I get to the Cape but I won't wire up the inverter until we get back to 'bama (might need Norm's and Don's expertise here). With Mikee's help I have a pretty good idea what I have to do. I plan to move the batteries to the opposite side of the coach and then install the inverter just above them. There are basically two circuits that I want to power in the rig so I will wire the inverter in to the electrical panel. I will have to add a 20 amp circuit breaker in the panel and rewire the charger to that (can't have the inverter trying to run the charger - that dawg just wouldn't hunt). When I'm all done we will be able to stop over night without power and run the televisions, computers (and router), plus make a pot of coffee in the morning. All of life's essentials, ya know. Yesterday was a recovery day. Mike and Peggy came over for a while in the morning. Judy and Peggy took Judy's sewing machine into "the shop" for a tune up and then stopped by Walmart for some more beer. Can't do projects or visiting without beer. I've been fighting off something (stuffy nose and just plain run down feeling) so I joined the katts for an afternoon nap. Later Mike and Peggy came over for dinner. We had grilled haddock, "con" on the cob, baked 'taters, and ice cream pie. We had planned to go to a concert in the park at Bolton's Landing but none of us had the energy so we just went for a walk about the reservation where we met Jesse and Ginger. They had gone for a walk as well but decided to take the golf cart with them. We came back home and sat outside until the mosquitoes drove us inside. Mike and Peggy returned to their palace and we hit the hay for the night. Just another day in the life. Monday, August 24, 2009 Our playmates arrived a day early so we went out to eat at the Luck-E-Star diner in Warrensburg Saturday evening. It sure is good to see Mike and Peggy again; we haven't seen them since they departed Summerdale, Alabama waaaaaay back in March. Yesterday morning we did our bi-weekly grocery shopping at Wally World. Mike and Peggy dropped by shortly after noon. Mikee brought his volt meter to help me toubleshoot my electrical problems. I'm pretty well suited with high cards in most areas of maintenance around the house but am short suited in the electrical department. With Mikee's expertise and my gawking we managed to determine that the converter was the problem. Mike is a nuclear physicist (or technician or something like that) so we installed a small nuclear reactor in the front of the rig - now I'll never have to worry about power again!!! Actually Mike had a spare converter left over from when he installed a new charging system in his motorhome so the problem has now been eliminated. However, one problem does have a way of leading to another problem. The Air Conditioner starting acting up a couple of days ago. It wants to start up even though the switch on the thermostat is in the "off" position. Also, there is some "clicking" going on even when I have the circuit breaker on the 120 volt side turned off. It turns out that we, well Mikee, thinks it is in the thermostat and not the A/C. He's a handy guy to have around and I learned quite a bit from him yesterday. The air conditioner runs alright but I will just have to remember to turn off the circuit breaker when we are not using it to ensure the false signals from the thermostat don't cause damage to the unit when it is not in use. We went over to Mike and Peggy's for dinner last night. Peggy made a shrimp taco mix with a garden salad and it was yummy. We had fresh strawberries with whipped cream for dessert. Lots of nice conversation took place before and after the meal. Yep, it is really nice to see them again. Saturday, August 22, 2009 Well, it is certainly quiet around here now. The katts are walking about smiling from ear to ear 'cause they got their palace back all to themselves with the last of the Patterson kids and grand kids departing yesterday around one o'clock. We waited all summer for this gathering to take place and now it is in the history files. We look forward to seeing them again in October when we pass through Tennessee on our way to the Escapees Chapter 26 Rally in Florida. It has been a busy month with Norm and Linda's visit last week, then the New Hampshire and Tennessee Pattersons arriving, and on Sunday Mike and Peggy Evringham will be arriving for a couple of days (it will be good to see them again). There are only two weeks left here at Lake George Escape and then we'll be on the road again ourselves. We informed Jim and Jan (Fun and Games Department Managers) that we won't be coming back next year. Finally we are in a position where we can travel fulltime and only w*rk when we want to (and for the near future we don't want to). Once we get to Belfast in about three weeks, I intend to get the travelogues all up to date and from that point on have weekly updates. When you get behind you forget a lot of details and have to work real hard to retrieve it (the old brain cells are not as fast as they used to be). So, it's time to clean up the house for company and start getting ready to hit the road. I still have to finish the fender skirt installation, pull the washer/dryer out of the closet to troubleshoot the dryer problem, and work on the 12 volt electrical problem. I have another issue with the 15K A/C unit in that it keeps attempting to come on even though the switch is in the off position. It surges every so often - what's up with that? Just one more thang to put on the ol' Ta Do List. Until next time, Be Safe, Have Fun, and God Bless. Wednesday, August 19, 2009 You live with anticipation of an event then it creeps up on you and speeds by before you know what happened. Marc, Amie, Briana, Lola, and Rock headed home yesterday morning. Our mini-reunion is over. Matt, Jackie, Catia, and Kalina are here until Friday and then they'll be heading out. The grand kids had just figured out a new tactic too. They must have had a morning conference and agreed to start out with one crying and just when that one settles down another one starts and so on until we have gotten through the four youngest kids. Then they would start all over again - that kept adults on the move. I told Miss Judy that I just loved it when a plan comes together and that our plan has finally come together. It took a long time to see the fruits of our labor but we now have a ring side seat to watch our grand children put our children through the paces that they put us through. Yep, I love it when a plan comes together!! In any event, it has been a great time having our family with us and we have enjoyed having our grand kids under foot only wishing that it could have lasted for a few more days. We'll see the New Hampshire Pattersons again in September and are formulating a road trip with Briana, our oldest grand daughter, for next summer. We had to go to w*rk yesterday afternoon, yuck!! Yesterday morning there was a meeting for the workampers which we didn't attend (we don't do meetings anymore) that explained next year's workamper program at LGE. The big change is that all workampers will be given sites at LGE Schroon Valley which is a sister campground about 8 miles away. The sites are small, 30 amp, and no cable TV but they are supposed to upgrade the electric and add cable. There are pros and cons with the major pro being living in a quieter campground community. Our site here is like living on Main Street USA with heavy traffic flooding past our house at all hours of the day and night. The major con is going to be transportation to and from LGE, especially the Fun and Games people who have split schedules. There is going to be a shuttle but that in conjunction with the w*rk schedule will result in a lot of waiting around. Of course, you can drive your own vehicle but again the Fun and Games schedules vary soooo much that it would result in more waiting around. Oh well, what will be will be with the workampers weighing the pros and the cons and making their decisions. I think that this would be a good time to invoke our workamping rule: W*rk no more than 6 hours a day, w*rk no more than four days a week, commit to no more than two months at a time, and w*rk for no less than $15 per hour. Yep, I just love it when a plan comes together!!!! Tuesday, August 18, 2009 The battle wages on with the adults taking on heavy casualties. We are definitely out numbered, out gunned, and out maneuvered on all fronts. We continue on with our disillusionment that victory will be ours in the end when, in fact, our opponents aren't even breaking a sweat (kids - 6, adults - 0). The one tactic that brings us to our knees is whinyness. When the kids are fearing that we are beginning to gain the upper hand they resort to whining. There is nothing like whining that will take the wind right out of an adult's sail, especially when it's hot outside. I'm not sure but I think they want the house. I told Miss Judy that we should just give them the house and run for our lives. Maybe we could hide in the bushes until the cover of darkness and then sneak out of sight before dawn. The other adults, who happen to be our kids and much younger then we are, want to march on to victory. There are some cracks developing in our opponents armor with some dissension in the ranks - ah, we may be able to divide and concur after all. The operative word here is "may", however, I wouldn't count on it. The weather has been absolutely fantastic - too hot for the locals but grandma and grandpa find it very much to our liking. I must admit that it has been a little on the humid side which makes it uncomfortable when chasing little kids all over the place and it tends to make little kids whiny when they get over heated (see above). But we couldn't have had better weather for the mini-Patterson family reunion here in the Adirondacks. Today could very well break the record for heat in the Lake George area. The morning began with me getting up at 6:30 and making a pot of coffee. Miss Judy ambled out at around seven and the troops showed up for breakfast between 7:30 and 8:00; I'm not really sure but I think everyone got fed. Then it was a DVD (Wall-e) to keep the natives rested while the daily plans were being hatched. Matt, Jackie and Marc took the three older kids over for bounce time. Crafts began at 11:30 with grandma being the second at bat. Grandpa puttered around the house with Marc and Matthew in an attempt to realign the slideout which was a huge failure (that thing wouldn't even budge an eight of an inch). Grandma arrived back with the "little dears" just in time for us to reload the feeding trough with PB&J's. Once that task was accomplished it was time for another craft. Grandma took Briana and Catia to crafts again (it was a beading craft for older kids this time) while Amie took Lola for a walk. Grandpa held Kalina in the recliner for an afternoon nap (actually we both ended up taking a nap). Marc tended to Rock and I'm not sure what Matt and Jackie did. At 3:30 Grandpa took Briana and Catia on a tubing ride on the Schroon River then it was time to return home to reload the feeding trough once again. This time it was hot dawgs cooked over an open fire with toasted hot dawg rolls, cole slaw, a couple of Jell-o desserts, and some left over macaroni salad. Dinner was followed by a wagon ride around the campground; everyone except Amie, Rock and Grandpa went on the ride (Rock slept while Amie journaled and I wrote some of today's entry). Everyone mustered around the campfire for the evening and grandma served up some yummy strawberry pie. After getting some of the younger kids into bed we toasted some marshmallows and chatted away until the cob webs started to form in our brains. Monday, August 17, 2009 Busy, busy, busy!!! "What are we going to do next?" "I'm bored, what can I do?" "When can we go swimming?" "Are we going to crafts now?" Yep, there's five kids and only six adults so we are vastly outnumbered. We rolled out of bed, fed the troupes (changed three fifths of the troupes), and turned them loose on the campsite. Things happen quickly, some of these kids are faster than greased lightening. At 11 o'clock grandma took one for the team and took three kids to crafts. Boy, their hands are fast. They can have something in their mouth before you can blink an eye. Next five adults and two kids went kayaking. Briana took her own kayak and did a great job paddling while grandpa took Catia with him on a tandem kayak (little wiggle worm there). Amie took one for the team and stayed behind with the three youngest which ended up being the "poopy" detail. I should be investing in diaper companies - these kids go through diapers like you know what goes through a goose. At this point, six adults were ready for naps but that wasn't happening, however, grandpa sneaked in a nap with the katts. Speaking of Katie and Alex, they are more nervous than a long tailed Tom katt in a room full of rocking chairs. They have been laying low in the bedroom area while their house is being invaded by humanoids. Katie has not been happy and is more than willing to exhibit her displeasure whenever I go into the bedroom - She lays on the bed and howls at me letting me know that enough is enough already. Mean while Alex just keeps his big katt body as much out of sight as he possibly can by hiding under the covers or down behind a pillow. We had B-B-Q'd chicken with a macaroni salad and left over potato salad along with some of Duke's beans. It was yummy and kept the natives quiet for a few minutes while stuffing their faces. Before the adults could finish eating it was "When are we going swimming?" Remember, we are vastly out numbered here!! After dinner four adults and five kids went swimming while grandma and grandpa tended the home fires. I set fire to some wood while we awaited the return of the "swim team". After swimming Marc and Amie went for a walk and to the store leaving Miss B, Lola, and Rock in Matt and Jackie's and grandma and grandpa's care. Kalina and Rock went down for the count leaving Lola and Catia on the move. When kids are getting tired they just keep moving; all I could think of is those cartoons where you see a body with nothing but blur where the legs should be. Finally Lola crawled up in grandpa's lap where she crashed and burned leaving Briana and Catia as "The Last of the Mohegans". When Marc and Amie returned it was s'mores and shelled peanuts around the camp fire with Catia finally giving up the ghost for the day. Briana is almost 11 and can easily out last the adults without even breaking a sweat. Finally it was time for lights out for grandma and grandpa thus ending our eventful day. It sure is nice to have our family together and enjoying the grand kids. We went to bed tired but happy; can't wait to see what today will bring. Sunday, August 16, 2009 Babies come with lots of "stuff"!!! No, not when they are born but by the time they come to Grandma and Grandpa's house they come with lots of "stuff". It's amazing how four additional adults and five extra children can clutter Grandma and Grandpa's house on wheels. But, it is good clutter that warms your heart to see it laying around because it only means lots of good times are taking place. We would have it no other way. Marc, Amie, Briana, Lola, and Rocco arrived first at around 2:00. Marc is learning that you don't make time when traveling with that ensemble. It took them a little over four hours to make the three hour trip - yep, babies make lots of stops as well. Matt, Jackie, Catia, and Kalina arrived around 6:00. It looked as if they should have been driving a maxi van not a mini van. That thing was loaded to the hilt. When making a trip from Murfreesboro, Tennessee to Diamond Point, New York with two little girls it requires a ton of "stuff". Just wait until they become teens, then see what it requires. I remember taking a vacation with four kids. Mary had at least a half dozen suit cases packed with every "needed" piece of clothing required for the next two weeks. I came down the stairs with one small piece of luggage and Mary asked; "Is that all you're taking?" to which I replied; "What else could I possibly need!" Mary just stared at me and said; "Dad, you're sick!" She had never heard of wearing anything twice without washing it (I won't go into how you can get four days use out of a pair of underwear). We are finally getting summer weather up here in the Adirondacks; the locals are whining that it's "too hot". I tell them that I was just thinking of putting on a jacket. We've had winter weather here since we arrived and this feels nice. Today is supposed to hit the 90's which is probably to hot for these cold blooded northerners but just about right for us warm blooded southerners and great weather for our mini family reunion. Judy and I came home from w*rk at 5:00 and joined Marc, Amie, and kids for a swim at the beach. That was invigorating and refreshing to say the least. Briana is just a little fish when it comes to the water. Her other Grandma and Grandpa in Maine has a swimming pool and she learned to swim before she could walk. Of course, Miss Lola has to do everything that her big sister does so we had to keep a close eye on her (Briana is 10, Lola is 2). Rocco just took it all in from his car seat; he did get his feet wet however. We got a phone call that Matt, Jackie, and girls were just taking the exit for LGE so we all made tracks back to the house. Miss Judy went over to the lodge to get their pass so that they wouldn't have to stand in line since they had been on the road since Friday after Jackie got out of w*rk. A caravan was started to move all the "stuff" from the mini van to the tent. Once that chore was nearly completed I began burning some beef on the grill (burgers that is). Grandma had made her famous potato salad while Duke had baked up some beans (he wouldn't sell us his recipe). A few beverages and some potato chips rounded out the menu. Nothing like a backyard B-B-Q with family. Later I set fire to some wood and Grandma and Grandpa tended to the home fire while Marc, Amie, Briana, Matt, and Jackie went on the haunted wagon ride at 9:30. Kalina and Rocco had hit the hay while Catia and Lola kept Grandma and Grandpa young. Lola finally crashed and burned in Grandma's lap but energizer bunny Catia kept right on going, and going, and going. All in a days work. Saturday, August 15, 2009 Anticipation!!! That is the word for today. Before our heads hit the pillows tonight we will have our five grand children running around under our feet. Yep, the Pattersons east will arrive just after noon while the Pattersons west should be here before six o'clock. To have all five grand kids together at the same place, at the same time will be a first for us. Hope the ol' folks can keep up!!!! Katie and Alex don't even 'spect nothin' at this point, but their little world is about to come to an aburpt change. They don't like their space invaded. Whenever we have company Alex, once he has decided it is time for them to leave, will come out, sit on his pedestal, and stare at them hoping to make them feel uneasy enough to leave. Well Alex, that dawg won't hunt this coming week. You and Katie will just have to hunker down and stay out from under foot. Well, mother has a list of things to get ready for the arrival of said grand kids, therefore, I must get my assets in gear. I only got five hours to get the list cleared before I go to w*rk at the boat docks. Arrivederci!!! Thursday, August 13, 2009 Guess who came to dinner? I won't make you sit with baited breath any longer. It was our good friends and mentors, Norm and Linda Payne. Last Wednesday we got an email from Norm stating that they were going to be in the area for a couple of days asking if we had any time off. What a question for a fulltimer, "Do you have any time off?" The answer should be, "Why yes, I have every day (and time) time off!" But that is not so for us for a few more weeks. Anyway, we made arrangements to meet up on Wednesday night (which was last night). I saw them arriving at around five o'clock right when we were pulling out on the tubing bus so I "radioed" Miss Judy that they were on board. Norm and Linda did a self tour of the park while waiting for Judy and I to get done w*rking. We went to the Woodland Grill for dinner where Norm and I had the "Fish and Chips" dinner (not so good) and Linda and Judy had the Philly Cheese Steak and fries plate (always a good choice). But it wasn't about the meals, it was about the company. We returned to our house (on wheels) where we partook of wine, cheese, and crackers and, of course, more great socializing. When we said our "good byes" for the summer (way back in April) we hadn't planned on seeing each other again until the end of October but Norm and Linda decided to do some traveling in the northeast. It was really great to see them again and we can't wait to meet up again in Florida at the Escapees Chapter 26 Rally in October. Wednesday, August 12, 2009 What can I say. We are still "treading water" here at LGE waiting for our day of freedom to arrive. Things are pretty much same ol', same ol'. Our weekend came and went faster than a speeding bullet. I finished installing the rest of the lambrequins and I managed to get some paint and paint the new fender skirt. It is installed temporarily on the rig but I have to mark it, take it off, and cut it. Most of the skirt is on the slideout but there is about 1 foot section that attaches to the main body of the coach. I'll need to put the slideout in in order to line everything up so I'll do that next weekend when the lads are here to help dear ol' dad align the slide first and then cut and install the trim permanently. I still need to finish trouble shooting the washing machine issue and solve the 12 volt electrical issue. We need to stop dirtying our clothes so I can have some time to pull the washer/dryer out of the closet, remove the back panel, and check the continuity on the board. I personally think that it is the heating element but Splendide wants to eliminate the "obvious" first which makes sense and their customer service representative is being very helpful (and patient). My friend Mikee agreed to help me trouble shoot the 12 volt problem. Electrical is the one area that I need more expertise in especially considering that I want to add a two or three stage charger and an inverter into the system. If I just went out and purchased two 6 volt golf cart batteries, a charger, an inverter, and installed them the problem would be eliminated (I think). I must say, however, that I'm a little disappointed in Forest River's wiring abilities - in places it looks like a high school shop class did the work. Oh well, it is what it is!!! Have you noticed a pattern here? I seem to savior my projects by accomplishing them one bite at a time. That's what happens when you are w*rking five days a week. This w*rking for a living has gotta go - four more weeks and we'll be "free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty that we're free at last!" We are getting a special treat this afternoon. More about that later. You'll just have to stay tuned to find out, but here's a hint. Guess who's coming to dinner!!!! In the meantime, hang in there - we'll be Wandering America again soon!!!! Sunday, August 9, 2009 Here it is 8:30 in the morning and I'm just rolling out of bed. We played outside until mid night last night. This week was the first of two Halloween weeks here at LGE and I was one of the Ghouls along the Haunted Wagon Ride. Halloween week lasts two weeks and LGE does it up right. We have three different wagons and they leave at fifteen minute intervals starting at 9:00 with the last wagon departing at 11:00. The ride lasts about a half hour and makes six stops at various "scenes". There are also spooks along the way and several of our guests get into the act by having things going on at their sites as the wagons pass by. Miss Judy helped to load wagons while I was a Ghoul at the grave yard scene. We had a coffin with a corpse that rose out of the coffin and slowly made her way toward the wagon. In the meantime me and my fellow Ghouls would sneak up on the wagon from the backside and scare the pants off the guests. It's all about screams - the more screams we can get the better. Teenage girls are the best!!! The Haunted Wagon Ride is a very scary ride - parents are told that it is scary when purchasing their tickets and advised to not take little ones on the ride, however, some fool always thinks it will be alright to take little Johnny or little Sally and then yells at the spooks for scaring the little tikes. The costumes are extremely real looking and are scary enough that even adults admit to being frightened on the ride. People make reservations for the two Halloween weeks a year in advance just to be here and the park is always full so most people have a good time. Yesterday we were slammed at boats. We had every boat that LGE owns in the water most of the afternoon with people waiting to rent. Gene and I were pretty well tired when we finished our shift. I did have to make a rescue for an over turned canoe right at the end of my shift. Why is it that every time I have to make a rescue it is a fat lady who can't swim and panics? (don't they know that fat floats - I'm speaking from experience here) It took three of us to pull her up a steep embankment to get her on dry land, mean while the canoe is floating off down stream. Once she was safe and sound I took a kayak and some rope and went after the canoe. I hooked the rope on the front of the canoe (which end is the front?) and paddled to shore where I had to get out in waist deep water, push the kayak up the bank, and then pull the canoe to shore. A canoe full of water is H-E-A-V-Y but I managed to pull it up a little and dump some of the water out, pull it up some more and dump out a little more water, and keep doing that until I had it entirely up on shore. Then the campground pick up truck came by to load both the canoe and kayak in the back for a ride back to the boat docks. But it all ended well with me heading home to get ready to play Ghoul, needless to say, I was one tired spook when the night ended at quarter till midnight. Thursday, August 6, 2009 The good news is that we have had three days without rain. The bad news is that we've had three days without rain and people are getting out and wanting to do things. Tuesday afternoon I w*rked at the boat docks all by myself and was barely able to keep up with the demand. It is a lot of w*rk putting canoes and kayaks into the water and then pulling them out again. The canoes weigh 80+ pounds each as do the tandem kayaks. The single kayaks weigh around 60 pounds each. The electric boats are tied to docks but are just plain a lot of w*rk to get underway. Yesterday I w*rked the tubing trips and had three full trips. That, too, keeps one busier than a hound dawg scratching fleas. Issue the tubes off the bus, carry the canoe to the water, paddle the canoe up and down the river while keeping the "tubers" out of trouble, load the tubes back on the bus, carry the canoe up the beach and load it onto the bus. Then do it all over again. I'm not complaining because I enjoy doing it and enjoy seeing families having good times on the water, but I must admit that my joints and muscles were hurting last night. However, I did sleep like a little kitty last night, curled up, warm, and purring. It sure is nice to have multiple back-to-back days without rain and the weather report is for several more to come. I w*rk tubing trips for the next two days and then back to boats on Saturday. Maybe it will slow down just a little bit to a pace that this ol' body can withstand. In any case, keep the good weather coming!!!! Tuesday, August 4, 2009 A little bit of this and a little bit of that adds up. We got up yesterday, had our coffee, played a little bit on our 'puters, went for a walk, and came home to get started on our "Ta Do List". Miss Judy cleaned inside, did four loads of laundry, and made a 'tater salad for last night's dinner before retiring to her reclining lawn chair to do some reading. I started flushing the black tank, polyurethane the lambrequins, did some check out on our house batteries which proved to be inconclusive, talked with Darrell at Splendide about the washer/dryer, and called Joanne at H&R Block in Foley, Alabama, before retiring to my reclining lawn chair to do a little reading. Last night we took the 'tater salad and some wine over to Jesse and Ginger's for a wonderful meal. Ginger prepared B=B-Q chicken, fried peppers and onions, a couple other salads to have along with a marvelous cherry crumb cake with ice cream on top for dessert. We had a great time visiting, laughing, and eating while getting to know them a little better. Did I ever tell you that making new friends is one of the greatest benefits of fulltiming - I know, over and over again, but 'tis!!! So long NBC!!! This morning we turned on the Today Show (we used to watch the Today Show for awhile every morning) and they still are harping on that pedophile freak. Everyday they have "something new" (not!!) about that freak and I don't understand why they are so intent on making him some sort of a saint. It's ridiculous!! I will agree that he had talent but he squandered it on his own self absorbed ways. To call him the "King of Pop" is offensive to hundreds of musical artists who have come before him and will come after him. Just bury the freak, NBC, and move on!!! In the mean time we will watch Good Morning America in the morning and the news with Charles Gibson in the evening on the other two networks. Sorry for the rant but there is real news taking place that they should be focusing on while leaving that crap to the gossip columns (which I don't bother to read) where it belongs - IMO. We don't go to w*rk until this afternoon so this morning I will continue to work on a couple more items on the famous "Ta Do List". I want to get it completed before we roll so when we get to Maine all we have to do is relax and visit with family and friends. I need to make a couple more phone calls this morning - one of which is to order the fender skirt from Forest River. Because of the continued rain cycle the black streaks are back on the RV again so I need to wash them off - "I hates them black streaks to pieces!!!" Therefore, I better get busy, no rest for the weary!!! Monday, August 3, 2009 So, I started knocking things off the "Ta Do List". Yesterday I took care of the door handle issue on the laundry closet door. Being that I couldn't get a door latch set that matched the one on the water closet door, I bought two latch sets and replaced both of them. It wasn't a one-for-one swap out, however, and I had to do some slight modifications to the doors but the item is now complete and crossed off the list. I, also, bought a short handle Phillips screwdriver so I could take to top off the washer/dryer without disconnecting it and pulling it out of the laundry closet. I removed the top and checked the continuity of the two switches as Splendide's service representative had told me to do. They are both "open" which means that it is the heating element that will need to be replaced. Looking over the machine told me that it was not going to be as easy as replacing the heating element is a standard house dryer. Hopefully I will be able to do it without a having a service call - $$$$. Further, I got out the manual for the slideout and started reading about how to adjust the slideout. I can only imagine that it is a little more difficult than they have indicated in the manual but, at least, I now know what has to be done. There is a gap in the back of the slide where I can see day light coming through which means that the slideout has to be adjusted horizontally. I have to loosen four bolts and push the slide back (or use a pry bar to move it back). It only has to move 3/8 to 1/2 inch but it is a 16 foot slide which means it most likely won't move that easily. We shall see - I may just wait until the lads (Marc and Matthew) arrive in a couple of weeks so they can help dear ol' dad. Today I hope to finish the lambrequins for the last three windows which will scratch that item off the "Ta Do List" as well. After emailing my friend Mikee a couple of times I'm pretty convinced that my house batteries are the cause of our 12 volt electrical problem. When I put the load tester on them they dropped to 11.5 volts right away and then held there during the rest of the test but you only test for about 15 seconds. Mikee told me that they should show about 12.7 volts and only drop to 12 volts after a strong load has been applied for quite awhile. I hope to do a little more testing today using my volt meter and measuring the voltage while turning on several lights (the lights shouldn't draw the battery down for quite some time). Should I have to replace them I'm going to install two 6 volt "golf cart" batteries rather than 12 volt deep cell marine batteries which is in there now. Other than that, Saturday was a beautiful day and Sunday was another rainy day. At least we are getting a one on one situation now - it was rain for two days and then clear for one day. Oh well, we're not in it alone and I would rather have rain than drought like Texas. Five more weeks to go until freedom (not that we're counting, mind you - but we're counting). We look forward to getting to Maine where we will spend about three weeks; one in the Freeport area and two in Belfast. I hope to get all of 2009 Travelogues completed by the time we leave Maine. There isn't really a lot to write about since the only traveling has been to visit family and get to LGE. We did spend some time at Oak Mountain State Park in Alabama and General Butler State Park in Kentucky. It's time to get busy it I'm going to get some things knocked off the ol' List, so Ta Ta for now! Saturday, August 1, 2009 I woke up this morning and you were on my mind - no, no, that's not it! I woke up this morning and there was money being poured into our bank account - yeah, that's better! As you all know, I have done all the paperwork and done all the follow-up so that now deposits are now flowing into our account on a monthly basis - I just love it when a plan comes together. Next month even more money will be showing up as my Social Security "check" will be deposited as well. There are some benefits to growing old like getting an America the Beautiful Senior Pass and money showing up in your accounts without w*rking for it. Hooray for my team! Yesterday was another rainy day - this has been the wettest July on record here in New York. Today, however, is going to be one of the top ten days this week. The sun is supposed to be shining and the temps are going to be in the mid 80's. Then Sunday, our day off, is supposed to be rainy again. What a cycle we've had this summer but it's not only in the Adirondacks as most of the country has been experiencing this same weather pattern. This is our "Friday" and hopefully we'll not be too worn out to enjoy the "weekend". We only have five weeks left here at LGE and still have a few visits left to make. We want to visit with Stan and Denise again (they live just outside of Burlington, VT) and we want to visit Alan and Jeanne at the State Park in Vermont where they are camp hosts. Our kids will be here in two more weeks and Mike and Peggy are planning on stopping by on their way back to Maine from another travel adventure. Plus I have to get busy and take care of the "Ta Do List" - Wow, we don't have much time left to get all of it done before rolling down the highway again. I had better get a wiggle on! Other than that, there's not much to report so for now, as Paul Harvey used to say, Good Day! |
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