Naples Revisited '10

After two and a half years, Sebastian and I, along with our friend,Bernice, loaded up the Bearfoot Bus and headed southward. I hooked up the car in a cold rain, we loaded the bikes inside the Bus also in that cold rain. We strung our foul weather gear down the center of the bus to dry as we motored out Shine Hill Road headed for the Northway (I 87). First realization was my wipers were not working properly. They could be enticed to wipe twice with a manual application of the mister on the dash. I began to pray for a cessation of the rain along with the other multitude of prayers going through my mind. Stopped at exit 16 to top off the diesel tank, expensive but necessary. I carry 90 gals of fuel and can go over 900 miles on one tank if I let it go that low. I actually fill it after a half a tank so the tally is not as painful. Intermitent rain much of the way along with strong cold winds. I had purchased an EZPass and put the little whatcha-dingies on the bus windshield as well as the car window. This is my first experience with EZPass and I was a bit dazzled and unbelieving by the process. We motored through the first toll booth without a problem and continued on down the NY Thruway to Suffern where we merged onto I 287. I went through the toll booth in Suffern and was quite intent on the little green lights on the left side of the coach to see if this thing really worked when thud, I tapped my right hand mirror on the toll booth pillar. Didn't do anything serious to it but loosen the screws and bark up the chrome. But needless to say it was useless until I could somehow tighten it up. Driving a rig this size and not being able to see the right side is very stressful. We stopped at a rest area and I brought out my trusty duck tape. A fellow camper saw me and came over bearing an allen wrench which he used to tighten the screws. Ahhh! Dodged that bullet.

As the light began to seriously fade on I 78 crossing PA, we began to question where to pull over since I don't drive at night. We found a Love's Truck Stop and pulled in amongst the big rigs. We have come to the conclusion after a sleepless night that there are 3 million trucks in PA and they were all running engines and gensets at Love's all night. Pulled out on a frosty early morning, seeking warmer, quieter places. Stopped that night in Ashland, VA. I de-winterized the coach so we could take showers and flush the toilet. We met daughter Lisa and my grands, Travis and Anna at a sweet cafe in Short Pump, VA for lunch before a roaring wood fire. Hmmmm good! The forcast was for extreme cold in VA.....we left for the southern I 95. Drove to Selma, NC for a quick overnight. Very cold and high winds on the beam! My wrists and hands ache from wrestling with the "tiller" and keeping the bus on track. Very challenging with constant tractor trailers rushing by and the wind hitting on the other side. Made it to Point South, SC and stayed in an Alligator Preserve. Bernie doesn't like alligators...... We ordered a pizza and had it DELIVERED. Wow! Slept very well for the first time in days. Many snowbirds coming in for a rest stop covered with salt wash from Ohio, Canada, PA and NYS. We wandered around and compared war stories.

Off the next morning to cross GA where it was slow going with construction. Confronted with miles of the dreaded concrete barriers and VERY narrow lanes shared with tractor trailers. Ughhhhhhh! Kept plugging onto FL border and A1A, 301 on to Gainesville where we joined the throngs on I 75. After 535 miles (I can't believe I did it today), we gratefully pulled into a campground near my dear friends Brent and Sharon in Riverview, FL. New Year's Eve.... we collapse in our bunks and listen to the barrage of fireworks well into the wee hours. Brent and Sharon and dogs, Chance and Sugar, came over to visit the next morning in windy rainy weather and a bit of thunder. Maneuvering in amongst the live oaks with their massive over-hanging branches was most challenging. But we were able to get out of there without a mishap and hit the road for Naples. Heavy winds and rain and a most annoying wind sound in the cab that couldn't be disquised with the radio blasting and of course, the manualling operated windshield wipers was most challenging once again. We pulled into Lake San Marino immediately after they had experienced a huge deluge and the streets were flooded. Thanks to my bro-in-law, Emory who guided me into my tight place without a hitch. Thanks to God and to our Highest Guidance and Angels who were obviously very busy on this journey keeping us safe and warm.

It is unseasonably cold here but sunny. More later and pics later when I am able to go online with my own laptop.

Happy New Year!!!