Sunday 10/26 Probably a rest day, as it should be.

 Picture of the day

 

This is the Monaco Diplomat RV we are working on down here. We owned it back then. Funny I picked this picture; see that RV port down the grade? That is what we are getting back on the NC move in a few weeks.  Yep this picture is the backside of the home we are getting soon.

BUT for now:

Our walks are becoming fairly regular.  Working is exercise, but that does not replace the leg exercise.

Sherry did run a small load of clothes thru the Splendide combo washer/dryer.  The machine had not been used in over a year, one switch was faulty/stuck and we finally got it to running.  The load finished perfectly and dried.  So that is one more thing marked off.

I hope to rework the kitchen sink caulking, check the engine fluids and adjust the mirrors. On the next work day.  Things are coming together….

WE lived in this thing over 15 years I think, it sorta feels like home as we move around it.

Nite Shipslog

PS. 

WE are completing our mission pretty fast. The coach is looking good.     Love from FL

Saturday 10/25 a short day, but fun.

 Picture of the day

 

WE entered Alaska after crossing the Yukon River on a ferry. This was the beginning of the Top Of The World Highway, down to Chicken,  Alaska from Dawson in the Yukon.

BUT for now:

Friday Mark took us out to eat.  We ate at the Mason Jar, a nice restaurant up the road towards Umatilla.  WE had a good meal and a time to shoot the breeze.

Sherry told us the news she received from JJ.  Grandson Ben has a new job with benefits.  The job is temporary sorta.  JJ says there is a plan in the works for Mark’s son Matthew to study some more and apply for a test to get his contractor’s license.  The same license that I and son Mark had.

 If it pans out that would be great, Ben might go to work for him and they just might revive the old ‘Darnell’s Construction Company’.  Of course that would make me smile, maybe I could get a job as a ‘helper’.

If Matthew does get his license, I am sure Mark will be proud.  When Mark left me (with my blessings) to form his own company, he built some great homes.  Bigger and better than I…… AND of course I was proud to see it.

                                                    This RV doesn't have a basement.

Anyway, after dinner Mark gave us the weekend off (LOL), but we insisted on continuing a little. Sherry will take a Very Small load of clothe to test the Splendide washer/dryer, a combination unit.

I hope to finish the basement area. (The storage area below an RV living area is referred to as the basement) That area is where the utility parts of the coach are. The Sewer tank (referred to as Black Water) and the dirty sink/bath water tank (referred to as Grey Water) are there.  The freshwater tank is also there below. The A/C generator and air compressor along with batteries and water controls are there also.  The unused space is open for storage. A unit this size has super storage. I carry enough tools for the mechanical work and enough tools to build a home. LOL

  This Mini Cooper confuses me, who is looking at the engine?

Th A/C generator mentioned is what makes these coaches self-sufficient. The generator supplies all the power one needs to have lights, heat and A/C. The refrig stays running and you can cook, electric or gas.  We have portable WIFI and can use computers, TV and radio.

The Air compressor is required for the Airbags (springs) for the coach. It also supplies air for tires for the coach or car if needed.

Having these conveniences in the field or deserts is nice. We were self-sufficient in Alaska and the BLM* lands in Arizona.  You stay at no cost with all the conveniences of home. Nice. ;-)

Nite Shipslog

*BLM= Bureau of Land Management (Gov’t land)

PS. 

About the basement, I did not mention the engine compartment. Mark's coach is called a Diesel Pusher. The engine is in the rear, under the bed. I prefer that , the noise is less up front and I can hear better.

For Friday….. The coach isn’t completely checked out, but it is listed

  Today’s picture:

 

This is Mark and Jack Jr. on our 1960 Rambler.  Mark is now 64 and JJ is 67 both on SS.  You all think I am old, but Sherry married me when I was 12 yrs old.  :-O

NOW for today:

WE are a little tired, Things are going as planned and we are a little ahead of planned time.

Mark listed his 2000 Monaco Diplomat on Leesburg, FL Facebook Market place today.  He doesn’t care much for technical stuff, but he sells on marketplace using only his phone.  I guess many of you also do much on your phone.  It is too small for me.  I still need at least this laptop.

About Mark’s RV, WE now can use the slides, jacks, generator, and compressor.  WE have not tried the washer/dryer yet.  WE did take a chance and drove it about 3 miles. Drives good, gears change, turn signals good. He has had one call all ready, that sounds good that soon.

Take care. WE BE tired… We are taking it easy just working 4-5 hours a day.  We are also walking 2 miles and are GLAD of that.

Both of our sons have good young'uns. Jack has three sons, Mark has a daughter and 2 sons. They all are proud parents and have a great work ethic.  WE are very proud of our family.

Nite Shipslog

PS:  Thanks for stopping by, An old man must do something, …Son Mark is looking for some Molasses, so we all went to the local farmer’s market which also sports a Flea mkt.   No Molasses but ran into a honey salesman from a town just 50 miles from our place in NC. ..

Love from FL

Thursday Just stuff about my Moorhen

 Today’s picture:

 

My pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow a our pier.

BUT for today:

To Myra, thank goodness we do no have the no-see-ums here now, those dudes bite, these don’t, they are just aggravating.

And to those who asked about my Moorhen, Lake Dora was my first encounter. The Moorhen is sort of a water chicken. It can swim.  I only saw black ones.

Cleaning the grass under the pier

I have a problem; I have conversations with Florida lizards and stray cats. This was my first time having a waterfowl to talk to. Somehow that rascal got the nest made and laid eggs on our boat before I caught her.

It was a real kick to see, listen, and watch her fuss as I removed the nest and slipped it into  the 5gal bucket. I know she wanted to flog me. I am sure she used some bad words!  I was amazed when I stepped aside and motioned her to the nest. She only hesitated a minute before getting back to her eggs.

The babies were bald headed...

She fussed at me as she said I had messed up her home; now she was fixing it. As she moved sticks and stuff around then sat on the eggs. Still fussing at me. I loved it. I was glad, because in my lifetime I have had to move birds’ nests with eggs in them and the mama bird would not return to the nest and the eggs were eaten by predators.

If I ever find my pictures I will post them. She was protective of those chicks when they came. Funny that, when she KNEW they were big enough, she pushed them off the pier and they started swimming right away.  Like little birds naturally fly soon.

I really missed the old girl when we moved.  But I did not miss these guys who were close by.

Anyway, that was a fun part of an old man’s life.  I love cloud formations also...

Nite Shipslog

PS:  Thanks for stopping by,  An old man must do something, if nothing but talk to lizards (BTW there is no shortage of ‘em in Florida) AS I worked around Mark’s coach today I saw some BIG ones. …..LOL

Love from FL

WEDNESDAY Things are going well here, Except for flying bugs.

 Picture of the day

 

This was my pet Moorhen when we lived on lake Dora. She built n the boat first, but I moved her to this little house on the pier. She finally settled here, had her puppies and raised them there.

BUT for now:

AS most folks know, we do not homestead when we move. About 4 years is our average stay at an address.  Floridia is a great state, especially weather wise, but we do have our BUG season.

                            Capt. Jack

The Fungus Gnat and the Aphid come in swarms and love to be close to water.  This happens to be Lake County and it is FULL of lakes. Here in the park we are about 3/4 mile from a lake.  Mark is about 100 YARDS from LAKE Eustis.

Therefore, they are worse at his house where we are working.

WE lived in Tavares right on lake Dora for a few years, there the bugs were called Non biting Mosquitos. They about drove us up the walls during bug seasons.

                        Days it was just us on the boat, me 'n my sweetie.

BUT living on Lake Dora we ate fish 2-3 times a week we caught off the pier.  WE had a pontoon boat but seldom caught fish when fishing from the boat. However, we bordered on the Dora Canal, a very picturesque canal connecting Lake Dora and Lake Eustis.  Most folks who visited us got a tour of the canal. LOL

I cannot find one picture from the Dora Canal. I hope this is not a bad bug!

WE would have kept the place there, but that was my FIRST personal contact with a (HOA) Home Owners Association. I wanted to install a boat lift. NO! The rules were: NO LIFTS. (boat can be damaged tied up at a pier in bad weather, and it was.) Also there were no pets allowed, and the property could not be rented out.  WE had no pets, but wanted to rent the house out and hit the road for a few more years, NO!

 So we sold the place. And became Gypsies again. LOL

So, we are very familiar with this area since Tavares actually lies between our RV site and Mark’s place.

Nite Shipslog

PS. 

Tuesday.. Surprise, OUCH! But then what about the UNICORN

 Picture of the day

                     The Unicorn

BUT for now:

HappyK from up Maryland way gave me some very surprising news.  That PRETTY Bug I had on Yesterday is a bad one.  It snuck into our country from the Orient.  It is invasive and NOT GOOD for crops.

Invasive?  Amazing what someone or something can introduce into our country.  The Tilapia Fish is native to Africa and the Middle East.  It is now common to catch that fish in Florida.  Someone introduced that here. The Tilapia is a delicious fish, bug so is our Perch. LOL

 

The Python on a tree in Florida, You would see this dude in your  back yard, up to 16ft long and 90 pounds.

The Burmese Python, native of SE Asia, a Large Constrictor snake introduced in Florida as exotic pets has become the most invasive in the Glades. It has caused ecological havoc by preying on native wildlife.

I haven’t noticed in the last few years, but at one time they sold baby alligators as pets here in Florida. People as far north as Virginia bought them and the either escaped homes or were loosed into the wild when they got too big to handle.  Fortunately the gator doesn’t do well in cold weather and have not propagated.

People not understanding the BIG POSSIILITY of problems that can be caused, have increased population of invasive characters.

So I should have killed that Spotted Lanternfly, it sure was pretty though. (Much prettier than a roach) before it laid more eggs.

We have so many laws, rules and regulations, but it is hard to search every box and package imported.  Truly impossible to discover insect eggs, etc.

Y'all be good And do not try to sneak any Unicorns into the country, they would mix with our horses and no telling where or how many horns would be. WE might discover a Porcupine horse one day.

Nite Shipslog

PS:  Thanks so much for taking time to read this mess. Life is good, we are here for 3 week to assist Son Mark in selling a motor home.  Want one?

Monday..... Georgia on my Mind

Picture of  the Day:

On our last trip to Pennsylvania, I saw this pretty little bug, it is about 1/2 inch in size, but the pink color caught my mind. I have no idea what it is. I know there is an app that would tell me, but I don't have that app.  I meant to ask Dallas or Marian if they knew but I forgot!

BUT for now:

Right off, I wish I had painted that rock, Mav and Jack are on in the last post, BUT I didn’t do that.  There is an artist in our town who paints rocks. Coulda been her.

And Yes, Myra that stinking little girl has so many GREAT looks and faces.. When you talk to her, she looks at you like she is listening…

Now for the aggravating things, to start with, Sunday morn when we started, one of our three slide outs refused to close.  Son Jack Jr helped me urge it in as Sherry worked the controls.  It is a problem that hung in my mind as I drove down the road.

There was one smile, as all of you know, gas is expensive. We pulled into Flying J at Brunswick, Georgia it took over a hundred dollars for about 50 gals. It was $2.31 a gallon.  It is not unusual for that cost and more at times, this sucker gets only 6 miles to a gallon. That is the least we have paid for gas in a LLLLONG time!

However the Honda we are towing did not use a pint. LOL  It gets great mileage when the engine isn’t running. ;-)

In the early 1900s my daddy and mama were Georgia P-nut Farmers.

In Georgia for a night, just above the Florida state line. The puzzle of the kitchen slide-out is still hanging over our heads. So it was not extended for the night since JJ was not here to help me push it in. ;-)

But all in all the trip was good. Traffic is very heavy and again there were several wrecks slowing traffic to a stop at times.  But most of the time just slowing us down to a crawl for 10-15 minutes.

Nite Shipslog

PS. 

One thing that NEVER fails to happen.  When we see the Georgia state line, we start singing, “Georgia on My Mind.”  Of course I am about as good as Ray Charles, although I only know 1 or 2 lines of the whole song. LOL.  For years the state signs read, “WE are Glad Georgia is on your Mind!.  

YOUR TIME IS APPRECIATED at the Shipslog, THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

Sunday and we are on the road

 Publishing Sat night, ....

… .. And if you are here Sunday AM we are on the road

Picture of the day

 

The painted rock for Great great son Maverick on his 8th birthday. This rok is in front of his school.

BUT for now:

Well, we should be on the road.  Our plans are to leave Belmont before 9AM.  Most of our trip, only about 500 miles, will be on the interstates.

Our plan is to take two days to get to our campground in Florida.  WE could easily get there in a day, but we do not like going in and setting up late.

Oh yes, we had visitors. Palmer brought her parents, Luke and Jena over to see us.  They were headed over to see Dillon, our families latest ggranddaughter, and her mama and dad, Kiersten and Matthew.  Luke and Matthew are our grandsons from Mark and Corrine.

Jenna and Luke proud parents and we were thrilled to see that Palmer (Palmy) had brought them.
Palmy smiled for Sherry, she is a doll.

I finally had the nerve to hold Palmy, and got some sugar.  Not sure she wanted to let me have a little sugar  BUT she is a pleasure and delight to hold.

Be back once set up in Florida.

 Hope you too have a great day, we plan one. ON THE ROAD.

Nite Shipslog

PS. 

YOUR TIME IS APPRECIATED, THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.