Fulltime RVers always say that their plans are written in Jell-O, and that’s a good thing, because it gives us the flexibility to go with the flow. Even when the flow is taking us where we don’t want to go!
I have bad news, and good news, and more bad news to share with you. The first bad news is that we have had a change of plans and had to cut our Florida visit short. The good news is that we have received a deposit on our MCI bus conversion and soon it will have a brand new owner. The second bad news is that we have to meet him December 4th in Elkhart, Indiana. Yes, Indiana in December! Can you say cold?
So yesterday we were out of bed at the ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m. and started preparing to leave The Great Outdoors in Titusville, Florida. I wanted to be on the road by 9 a.m., but we were low on propane, and nobody was going to be available at the resort’s propane station until 9. Okay, how long can it take to get propane? We’d be on the road by 9:15 at the latest. Yeah, right?
I unhooked our utilities while Miss Terry stowed things away inside the motorhome, plugged in our PressurePro tire monitoring system, and started to scan our tires when an alert started beeping, telling me that our right outside dual was low on air. How low, you ask? It was down to eighteen pounds pressure! That’s not a good thing!
Our Winnebago diesel motorhome has an onboard air compressor, and came with a coiled plastic air hose to fill tires and such. I had never used it, but I drug it out of one of our storage bays, only to discover that it was kinked and cracked in three or four places. Totally useless.
The Great Outdoors has its own RV service facility, Eagles Pride, which is conveniently located next door to the propane station. It was a short drive, and I knew I could get there okay with the second tire on that dual side carrying the weight. After taking on propane, which took longer than expected, I walked over to Eagles Pride and asked if they could air up the tire and take a look at it. They said no problem, pull it up in front of one of their service bays.
That’s when I discovered that I had locked the motorhome door and left the keys inside! This day was rapidly going downhill. Fortunately (for me, at least), I had left the sliding window open next to the driver’s seat. I boosted Miss Terry up, she slid the screen out of the way, and crawled inside to open the door.
Ever the optimist, I was hoping that I had burned up all my bad karma, and maybe the flat tire was because I had not screwed on the PressurePro sensor cap correctly and had accidentally allowed the air to seep out.
No such luck, the tech at Eagles Pride found a bolt stuck in the tread of the tire. They are not set up to repair tires, so they recommended a shop in Cocoa, about twelve miles away. With the tire aired up, we drove to the shop and it took an hour or so for them to take off the tire, remove the bolt and make the repair.
Finally, we hit the road, and rolled north on Interstate 95. We pulled into the Flying J in Saint Augustine for fuel, and since it was almost 2 p.m., had a late lunch. We were back on the road by 2:30, continued north to Interstate 10, and turned west. We were so far behind schedule that I had given up any hope of putting too many miles behind us this driving day. But traffic was light and we scooted right along, making good time.
We don’t like to drive at night, but we pushed it as far as we could, and just as the last light was fading from the sky we pulled into the Flying J at Midway, Florida, just west of Tallahassee. They have several designated RV parking spaces in their parking lot, and we slid in between two other motorhomes and settled in for the night. Including our detour south to Cocoa to get the tire fixed, we had covered 330 miles, which was a good day of driving after all.
Today we’ll have an easy run of 225 miles to the Escapees Rainbow Plantation RV Park in Summerdale, Alabama. We plan to stay there until after Thanksgiving, and then we’ll have a straight shot north up Interstate 65 all the way to Indiana.
That’s assuming, of course, that there are no other last minute changes of plans or problems to get us sidetracked.
Thought For The Day – Plant yourself in good soil if you want to bloom.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Some days the jello jiggles more than others:) Glad the bus has found a new owner. Travel safe – take care.
Ain’t we havin’ fun! If you were a drinker, today would be a two shot of Jack day! LOL!
Barry & Joyce Crocker
Now in Fresno, CA headin’ south.
Glad the PressurePro did it’s job. Give us a call if you need anything.
Nick, Glad to hear the bad news wasn’t worse and happy your MCI found a new owner. You’ll be back in the south soon enough. Bad news is we won’t. Two more years at most till we’re on the road full-time. Janis
I am so glad for you guys. Our realtor has told us they have a Buyer for our house. They will write us a contract today. Then it is MCI time. Drive safe I will be praying for safe travel and clear roads in both directions.
Hey Nick, I realize that you’re already on your way back north, but might it not have been less hassle (and maybe cheaper in the long run) to leave your coach in Florida and fly back to Indiana to take care of business? At least that wouldn’t have impacted your future Florida plans as much.
Actually you did very well. With all those glitches you were still able to leave the same day. Thankfully you weren’t stranded in Cocoa because they couldn’t fix the tire or they didn’t have a replacement. We usually have a problem late Friday night or just before a major holiday and we sit over the weekend until stores reopen on Monday. Same day in and out is a success!!!!!!
See you next time you visit here at TGO. We will show you more of old Florida and neat stuff here that is not Disneyized!!!! Good luck on the sale of the bus and any other activities you have to do. We hope to be at the Gypsy Journal Rally out west. See you soon.
It’s all part of the adventure!
Rick,
We don’t like all the hassle of flying, and when we crunch the numbers (air fare, motel, rental car) , it doesn’t save any money.
We don’t know how long we’ll be in Indiana, it could be a quick in and out in a day or two, but if the buyer needs more time to learn how to operate all of the systems and get comfortable with the bus, it could be longer.
I am also waiting on a call from the VA hospital in Lexington, KY and may have to stop there again after we’re done in Indiana. So it just works better to have our house with us.
Nick,
Two years ago you were the teacher (Life on Wheels) and I was the student. Today I an going to put on my “teaching hat” and give you some sage advice:
Hide a key in one of those magnetic boxes.
Some days you should just turn around and go back to bed. Glad everything came together.
Glad you found a buyer for the MCI.
Safe travels
That’s why I always wear pants with pockets and always keep my key in the pocket. Neither one of us is EVER going to boost the other in through a window. Not happening! Of course, now that I’ve said “never”…
We’re going shopping today but we’ll be back in site 55 if you want to come claim more kisses. 🙂
I was wondering if you got the leak fixed on the slide out that you mentioned in one of your earlier blogs.
Also, if you like smoked pork butts, Dothan Al is a good place to get them.
Nick,
Just had to throw in the forcast for up here in IN. They are saying we are looking at getting lake effect s*** Thurs and Friday. Hopefully it will be gone the following week. Look at the bright side. At least you’ll get the chance to test your heater and maybe make a s*** angel. LOL
You will love Indiana in Dec. Ha! That is why we are in Az. Glad to hear your cool bus has a new home. You and Terry did a great job, what an accomplishment. We are glad you liked Siboney in Key West. Hope to get there again someday. Careful on the ice if you have any.
Dear Miss Terry & Nick,
Are you sure we’re not related some how??!!
So glad to hea you have found a new home for our bus. I know that’s a load off your minds.
Have a great Thanksgiving and he safest of travels to you both.
Hey Nick, IF (mighty big word for two letters) you see any SN** would you please take a picture and send me, that is as close as I want to get to the stuff…..
Glad you found the MCI a new owner.
Hey there big guy. If you are headed where I think you said you want Thanksgiving dinner in Foley. You won’t be that far away and let me tell you my mother in law, sister in law, and hubby’s two cousins are fantastic southern cooks. I am making some Yankee stuff to go along. We always have plenty and you and Miss Terry are more than welcome.
863 207 1395 is hubby’s cell. We are leaving Daleville, Ala tomorrow afternoon and heading down.
When you call hubby tell him you are Nick Russell and his old lady set the whole thing up.
I know the Escapees will have a great turkey dinner, but it ain’t that good southern cooking like my mother in law. Have I tempted you enough. OK Fried turkey, baked turkey, honey baked ham, sweet potato souffle, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, broccoli casserole, copper penny carrot salad, giblet gravy, deviled eggs, and who knows what else. Now does that sound good or what.
I will be on the computer for awhile. lindamason627@msn.com also
Let me know