Happy New Year

We prepared to travel last Saturday. So after church on Sunday, we hooked up and proceeded to International RV Park near Daytona Beach. We made a stop at a truck stop near Wildwood for lunch, then again at Russell Stover Candies just down the road. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived at the campground and the office was closed. A camper parked nearby attempted to locate someone to check us in. No one was to be found, so we were told to locate a site and check in next morning. So we found a good site large enough for our trailer. By time we got parked and set up, we were tired enough to call it a day. So we had supper in the rig.

Monday we went to Sam's Club where Loretta's niece works. We had a short visit with her and shopped some then had lunch. Later in the afternoon, we went to son-in-law Don's house to visit with him and grandson Timmy. Timmy had just purchased a new hard drive for his computer and I assisted on getting that installed. Then we went to Olive Garden when Cindy got home from work at Sam's Club. Cindy's husband Chip, daughter Christine and grandson David also went with us. Loretta treated to a great Christmas Eve dinner, then back to house for more visiting. I also assisted Timmy on getting online with their DSL connection.

Christmas morning we returned to the house to celebrate and Loretta assisted in preparing the Christmas dinner. Grandson Brian, Katy and granddaughter Lilly also came along with Christine's husband. There were gifts to open both before and after dinner, so along with a great meal and lots of photo ops, I am sure a good time was had by all. Unfortunately something on the table disagreed with Loretta. Fortunately I was able to find a Walgreen's open 24 hours where I was able to get what she needed for relief.

We decided to NOT stay for the campground Christmas party on Saturday. So on Wednesday morning we secured and hooked up for travel. We made 2 stops on way back to Homosassa. First was at a Friendly's Restaurant in Leesburg for lunch. We met another RV couple and had a nice visit over over our meal. The other was at Wal-Mart near Inverness for some shopping. I was beat by time we got here, so after getting unhooked and slide out rooms extended we rested a while before going into the house to visit with out hosts.

This morning we went to the Thursday Breakfast. There I was asked bu 2 couples for assistance on email setup. Then after a stop at hardware for hose end, we came home. I repaired the hose then sprayed insecticide in the area around our rig. I then finished the setup before coming in to find that the desktop computer is still acting up. I had suspected the mouse, but a change did no good so today I replaced the HP keyboard that I like with the one that came with the computer. Everything seems OK now, so we went to visit Quint and Evelyn where Loretta and Quint worked on a jigsaw puzzle and Evelyn and I attacked the VTech email device. After some time I tried to call Customer Service but got no answer. So I suggested she call tomorrow and will go online tonight to see if I can find more info. After a nice visit with coffee and cookies, we came home. When we arrived, the new water valve kit for the toilet had arrived. So I will probably attack that tomorrow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Andy and Loretta
Andy@W2UCZ.com

Merry CHRISTmas from sunny Florida

We left on Tuesday after Steve got home from work. We had everything ready to travel so got on road after farewells. We only drove a short way to Byron, GA where after a bit of searching, we located the Camping World store. They took our trailer right in to take care of the recall. We spent the time while they were doing that shopping in the store and visiting. But the job took almost 4 hours, so we ended up in the lounge drinking coffee and watching TV news. My plans were to get into Florida that day, but we stopped at Flying J near Lake Park, GA to fuel, get propane and dump tanks. It was after dark by time we got there, so after supper, we watched a movie in the Drivers Lounge then went to bed. In the morning, we had breakfast then took care of those duties.

We arrived at the home of our hosts in Homosassa, FL in mid-afternoon. By time we got parked and set up, we were ready to call it a day after a short visit. We have spent time here so far visiting with some of our friends in the area including a former customer from when we operated VHF Communications. As usual there are a few maintenance jobs that I keep to do here as I have a good place to work. There had been a very small leak from the toilet ever since we installed the new one. Yesterday, Cal and I removed it and after some searching, located the source. It appeared that a seal in the water valve is defective. I called Bill at Wade's RV Supply nearby. He did not have water valves in stock but told me it would still be under warranty. So I called Thetford and now have a new water valve on order at no charge. I did fill the leaking area in the old one with Silicone and reinstalled it. I find that the leak is apparently gone now. So there will not be a lot of pressure to install the new valve when it arrives.

We missed the Wednesday supper and bible study the day we got here as it was getting too late. However we did attend church on Sunday and the supper last evening. Something had caused Loretta to break out in a rash on her wrists before we went. She thought it was allergy to the cat. However during supper, she got worse and it was spreading on her upper body. So we didn't stay for bible study and came home to find her whole body trunk and arms covered with a red itching rash. I called her daughter in Tennessee (a nurse) after we got something on to reduce itching. She recommended 4 Benedryl immediately followed by 2 before going to bed. She also showered which provided some relief.

This morning was the weekly breakfast of the family of our hosts that live or winter in the area. She didn't plan on attending, however when she got up, she found that there was no sign of the rash so we did attend that function. As of now, we plan on leaving Sunday to go to Daytona Beach. We do that most years to spend Christmas with Loretta's family and relatives that live there. Plans are to return here right after Christmas, however when I called International RV Park to reserve a site, we were invited to stay till the 29th for a Christmas Party they are throwing for the guests. As of now that isn't in the plans, but we may change.

Nothing else that I can think of.
So MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

GOD Bless
Andy and Loretta
Andy@W2UCZ.net

In Macon, GA

Loretta and Jeannie finishing jigsaw puzzle

As expected, Loretta's kidney doctor gave her a clean bill of health and OK to go to Florida for the winter. Now if her hip holds out till spring. On the 1st, we moved to visit her sister near Chapel Hill. That evening they took us to the restaurant at Henry Horton State Park for buffet dinner. They serve a delicious and reasonable meal and we were surprised at the small turnout. But we also went there t Thursday to find that we were the only customers other than a few employees. So they hadn't filled the buffet except salad and desert bars. The excellent server waited on our table and visited with us. On Monday we went to Lewisburg and located the Medical Center where Loretta got her mammogram. We also shopped at Wal-Mart and took a ride through the city while there. On Wednesday we all went to the Nashville International Airport then visited niece and family in Franklin on way back. Some very cold mornings and weather wasn't the best. So we didn't do a lot except some shopping and eating out. I did walk the area some and got a guided trip around the wooded property which is mostly logged over cedar forest.

We moved on Friday with much needed rain starting. We were able to get secured and hooked up before the rain got too bad, and drove out of it shortly. We only drove to Birmingham, AL that day making a few stops along the way. We had supper and spent night at Flying J there and fueled there the next morning. On Saturday we came on to Macon. I had made arrangements with Loretta's son Steve to visit them for a few days. When we arrived in town, we made a rest stop in a parking lot. Steve came to meet us there and Loretta was really surprised as I had not told her about our plans.

We followed him to their place and parked in the backyard of the neighboring house which also belongs to their landlord. Jeannie was working, so after getting set up and hooked up, we went out to supper. As everyone was quite tired, we didn't visit any longer that day. Yesterday, they took us for a tour around the city and the Country Club where he works. Rest of day visiting and supper with them. Steve goes to work very early, so we haven't seen him today but visited some with Jeannie. I also met the landlord who asked how long we were staying. He said if it would be long enough to need it we could hook into the sewer and stay as long as we want. But as of now we plan on moving on tomorrow with a stop at Camping World nearby for refrigerator recall work to be done.