Back in Hartford

Did I mention that the pelicans in my cover page are real ones. I took that shot in Marco Island, FL this Feb.

Sebastian and I left Naples, Lake San Marino, on Mar. 8th. Leaving brought many hugs and tears, it always does. I didn't get out as early a I planned but that was ok since I was only going to Tampa which is 160 miles. We spent the night at Lazy Days' Rally Park. Rally it was and therefore we couldn't stay but the one night. I did manage to get my windshield glued in at their glass shop. It seems the folks who replaced the rubber seals last summer didn't glue the glass in properly. As we traveled southward in December, it opened up about 24" in the center. The cold air was blowing in and we didn't know where it was coming from. Of course, the weather going south was rotten. We didn't notice the slim opening.

We spent one night coming back in Rally Park. While there, I did manage to visit with friens who were there buying a new coach, Jan and Larry Beck. Then we moved over to my friend's home in Riverview. I pulled right up on their front lawn blocking the house from the street. Brent plugged in the frig and the battery charger so that's where she stayed. Bash and I enjoyed being in a big house for about a week. I bought two new steering tires while there and had them put on the front wheels. Age and inactivity are the destroyers of tires on these coaches. Mine had lots of tread but were showing wall cracks from age. They were 7 years old but probably only had 10k miles on them. Big bucks spent but what price safety.

Bash and I struck out for SC the first day back on the road. I like to take I 75 to Ocala then cut over on 301 to A1A to I 95. 301 was so rough, it about shook me to pieces. I remember thinking, I hope this is not a precursor for what is to come. We picked up I 95 which was not too bad until we entered Georgia. The construction was really bad as it was when I came down. Very narrow,crooked lanes. When I reached Point South that night after 9 1/2 hrs., I was dead on my feet. The next day we left for New Bern, NC. Another long rough day on Hwy 17. In Jacksonville, NC near Camp Lejuene we were held up for an hour due to a bad wreck. Meanwhile, it is nearing sunset. I don't drive after dark usually since I have a cataract. My destination was a KOA just outside of New Bern in Bridgton on Hwy 17. I got confused on the Neuse River bridge due to signs saying the draw bridge was closed and went south on Hwy 70 towards Cherry Point. Had to find a place big enough to make a U-turn (always a challenge with 65'). By the time I made my way across the bridge properly and headed north on Hwy 17 into Bridgton, it was 7:15 p.m. and dark. I wasn't quite sure where the KOA was but knew it was on the Left side of the road. On went the 4 way flashers as I held traffic up behind me. We made quite a parade and I bet those motorists were happy to see me reach my destination. I was ecstatic to say the least. The campground was closed for the night so I grabbed a map of the sites and drove around a few times. I pulled into one where I fit, joyfully shut down and hooked up my power and water. Quick supper and early bedtime. I checked in the following morning to find that they were amazed I had pulled into the exact spot they had reserved for me even though there were only a few RV's in there. I spent the next two days visiting with friends and walking out by the old Neuse River.

We left early for Ashland, VA in cooler than normal temperatures. Another long day on I 95 after making my way from New Bern to Williamston, NC where I 64 took me to I 95. Diesel fuel was cheapest in SC and VA...PA and NY are out of sight at over $3. per gal. I kept topping off the tank until I left VA. We stayed in VA and visited with daughter Lisa and friends, Tammy and Alice. From VA north, I knew I would not be able to drive the entire trip in one day alone. I don't usually stay in Walmart's because they are often difficult to find in the cities along the road. Campgrounds in PA are not open this time of year and truck stops can be horrendous. I did leave I 95 in Fredericksburg where I took Hwy 17 to I 66 West to I 81 north in Front Royal, VA. The weather and temperatures looked favorable for me to go straight north over the Applachians to Binghamton NY. As it began to get dark near Scranton, PA, I pulled into a truck stop dreading spending the night there. When I asked where they would like me to park, they said they didn't allow any RV's for overnights and sent me up the road a mile to a Petro Travel Center. It is way atop a hill and they separate the RV's from the trucks. It was reasonably quiet and safe. They had a restaurant and coffee bar even electricity if needed. Bash and I just tucked in and slept quite well. Early the next morning, we were on the road again in the rain. My wipers don't work except on the manual mist setting so my left hand got a workout. Going over those huge mountains with the steep grades is an experience in a motorhome. When we got to Binghamton, NY (has to be the arm pit of NYS), we took I 88 East to Albany. Some really rough spots but we were in our driveway by 2 p.m. Grateful to be home at last.

Now I find we are both a bit depressed. The weather here has turned cold and cloudy since we arrived. Lots of mud and crud everywhere. I have been doing everything I can to keep the Bus from freezing up. I don't want to winterize it for just a few days of cold. But I worry...

Back to work this week and then a week off for Easter.