Back in the Keys

After a short ride, 100 miles we crossed the bridge and arrived back in Key Largo after almost 6 months.  Our first time here was in 2001 and this Jan 14th Lynda and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary back where we got married, Key Largo.

Each year when we arrive we have sorted feelings pulling into the Elks property.  So many members do so many things during the summer to the back camp area.  We always find the place changed from how we left it.  This year was no different.  Picnic tables moved, frames from canopies left up, broken down outside bar in the middle of the tiki, and worst someone took our grill base apart and made a fire pit out of the cinder blocks.  So we moved, pushed, pulled and got things back in order.  Tomorrow I will have to try and find the campsite markers as even though we left directions to spray round up and keep them painted they let them get covered by grass again.  It hurts us the disrespect they show our work.  Vote me Elk of the year then just ignore all we ask.  But we are back on the water and it's warm.  Will get over it as I always do.

After we got our mail we headed for one of our favorite eat places Chads and had some great food.  Got a call from Joyce Kup the house chairman that I will be DJing a private party for money in the lodge and also the New Years Party.  That will be good.

So ends our travel blog for now.  Hope things go well and in a few months we can be blessed to take the long trip out west and let you know how that goes.  Take care and lots of love.  David and Lynda

Down the Florida East Coast to Fort Lauderdale

Got some propane this morning then we jumped on route 95 again and headed south.  Had one more show before we left with the Eagles flying just above us which was nice.  We have this App we use called Gas Buddy and use it to try and find the cheapest, easiest place to fill up.  Well I didn't use it and just pulled off an exit to find the price was $4.19/gallon for diesel.  Got right up to the pump as they didn't post that price and left.  Finally paid $3.83 down the interstate a bit.  I can't understand why diesel is taxed like it is.  That tax goes right after all of us as the truckers pass it on to the cost of all goods.  Makes no sense to me.  But I love my Bus engine and the fact that it gets better gas mileage helps things out.  Plus with an 80 gallon tank you can drive far enough to look for deals.  I remember pulling the fifth wheel with the pick up truck.  It only had a 30 gallon tank and we stopped often for fuel in spots that were both expensive and hard to pull into.

Getting back to the trip today I want to mention how tense it is to drive in Florida on the south east coast.  As you get closer to Miami the people get nuttier.  Small loud cars with tinted black windows zoom in and out of lanes at high speed with no signals.  Scary stuff.  Six lanes of 65mph+ equals white knuckles.  We often come down the west coast but didn't this time and are paying for it.  Tomorrow we have about a 100 miles to do and will be glad to into the Keys.

This campground is another passport america so it's just $17 for the night.  Not bad for full hook ups but tight.  It is filled with wall to wall Canadians.  They love it down here and come by the box load.  French is spoken in many campsites.  Not far away in Miami Spanish is the main language.  Am I in the USA, I wonder.

So on our last night on the road I have mixed feelings.  In my heart I would like to head west and keep traveling but we need to "Do our job" for now.  That involves running the Elks campground and thus getting paid with a place to stay, water, electric, and sewer.  Lynda holds down most of that work and I will make some bucks with the guiding, DJing and then both of us doing the photo work.  After a few months we will head west.  In the meantime there are old friends to see, warm weather to enjoy, familiar places and sights to see and for that we are blessed.

 This site is in Fort Lauderdale 5 miles from the beaches on the ocean.  Its called Paradise Island which it is anything but.  I can't believe some pay over $4000 for a 6 month stay.  The Quebecees are happy to pay.

Sir Charles and me with my new doo, see Just.  Ha

A lot of people live here in Daytona

This morning first thing I shuffled over to one of my favorite eating spots, iHop!  Why you say, well I'm on this crazy no fat, no sugar, no white flour, no white anything and there are few places I can find food out.  Starts with coffee with low fat milk and sweet n low.  Then egg beaters veggie omelet with mushrooms, tomatoes, onions etc.  Three whole wheat multigrain pancakes with walnuts and no sugar syrup. And I'm in heaven.  All for only $11.  Ha, Lynda stayed home and had her own fare as she isn't into my American breakfast thing.  Hey to each his or her own.

After that I got my ears lowered at the camp site of Joe and Flo from Rhode Island.  We had a good chat and for $10 plus tip my head is lighter.  I then worked a bit on getting the tar and rocks off the Honda that was deposited on our cross country trip through South Carolina.  Not fun.  Later we headed to the local Walmart to stock up for the Keys.  No Walmarts in the Keys by the way.  Imagine a place in America where you can drive over 125 miles on a populated highway and not have a Walmart?  After unpacking we, although getting dark, took a walk around the lake and went to try and get some shots of our friends the Eagles.  Not much light so not that great but they give you the idea at least.  There must be a dozen or more living around us here.  Tomorrow off to Fort Lauderdale after filling up on Propane that we hope will last the winter.  One bad thing about a Motorhome compared to a trailer is that the Propane tank is built in and you have to drive the Bus to somewhere that will fill it.  A trailers tanks can be taken off and filled.

Hey Kiley I see you are reading this, hope you are well and enjoying New York.  At least you can wear your Sox hat there and they won't kill you like they want to kill me in my Yankee hat in New England.  David

This is one of the lakes in the campground surrounded by pine woods, pretty yes?

Looking back towards the campsite, the Magic Bus is in the middle.

Lynda walking our Red Son towards the Red Sun.

This Eagle was huge, different ones kept landing in this tree then talking off.

An immature Eagle in full flight over me.

Two Eagles soaring over our coach having it out with each other.

My Lovely Lady Lynda posing with young Chuck at our site.

I hear the NASCAR rigs over at the Daytona track

Well I just finished my dinner, went out and got Chinese again. What a smooth trip here today, about 240 miles of route 95 interstate without a light or stop, 60 mph with the cruise on, sweet.

Lynda was at first a bit taken back by how this campground has expanded and worried the Eagles might be gone. That fear was quickly dispelled when we took a walk into the surrounding country side and came upon several beautiful Eagles both flying and in the trees. There is a large pond/lake in there that no doubt has many fish to feed the birds so even with the campers they will be fine. It's not like anyone is shooting them.

Tomorrow I will get my haircut from a woman that sets up shop here out of her motorhome. She cut mine last year on our way down. We will stay till Sunday then head to Fort Lauderdale for a night then into the Keys and Elks Monday. We both are enjoying seeing the sights and Our mobile home.

Just got off the phone with Anita Allen who is running the Bogey and Bacall canoe and kayak race in Key Largo this February. We used to do the photos for that race when Frank Woll of Florida Bay Outfitters where I guide ran it. Anyway Frank gave us her number to call and it turns out she has bought several photos from us of her in the United States Canoe Association championships. We know Her, small world. It will be nice doing that race again. I enjoy guiding tours, doing our photography and DJing. All are labors of love.  If you add that to my having such a beautiful wife and family I'm a lucky guy.
David

 This is Hardeeville campground in South Carolina.  10 min from Hilton Head and Savannah GA.  Nice Stop.

 Welcome to Florida Willy Family.  Back again.

 Lynda taking a picture of the Great Blue Heron sitting by the lake in Daytona FL in the International RV park.

If you look right between the 2nd and 3rd tree from the left you will see an Eagle flying.  Sorry didn't have my telephoto but will take some before I leave.  They are beautiful birds.

On the coast again

As we got the Magic Bus ready to leave today after 6 days in Greenwood Lake SC I thought about how nice it is to be able to do that, leave.  It's not that I wasn't getting comfortable there but the main reason people have homes on wheels is to roll.  That is the Adventure of it all.  Yes owning a site like the one we were in would be right for some, but why sit in your expensive coach and not move.  I guess if you could come for awhile and rent out the site the rest of the time to pay for it that might work.  But me, I noticed the good feeling closing the Bus up for the unknown trip ahead.  I really look forward to heading out west after the Keys season and seeing things we haven't seen.  That off course includes my Son, his lovely wife and best of all our new Granddaughter.

We had to cut right through the heart of South Carolina today on a two lane road that left large trucks coming pretty close at you in the other direction.  That didn't happen much though as the road was deserted most of the way.  We saw a lot of Cotton fields and I thought about how hard it must have been for slaves to work picking the stuff just for a meal and roof over their head.  Crazy system that was so inhuman.  That is one thing I hold against the South and those that still are fighting the Civil War and waving a confederate flag.  Just can't stomach all that.

Along with the Cotton we observed many run down shacks and closed businesses.  Poverty was everywhere.  I never saw that in South Carolina before from route 95 or along Myrtle Beach.  Sad thing.

We made it to the campsite, set up and headed out to a place called Squat and Gobble of all things.  It was a Greek Dinner in disguise.  Lynda had a Greek pizza and I had a stuffed pork chop filled with spinach and feta cheese, strange but good.  After that we headed for Hilton Head Island. We had never been there and wanted to see what it looked like.  Lots of nice shops and parks.  It started to get dark so we didn't make the ocean beaches.   Would like to see them another time. Tomorrow we will head out to one of our favorite places International Campground in Daytona Beach with it's many beautiful bald Eagles.  David

In those old Cotton Fields back home.  Notice the skinny two lane road with no shoulder.

Last night in Lake Greenwood SC RV park

We will be leaving early tomorrow instead of staying till Friday.  Duty calls at the Elks as we have campers coming in Tuesday.  I must say it has been a nice stay.  I have changed my tune from the first days and we both have enjoyed the area and weather.  Today we did some more cleaning on the Bus and then went in to buy a new relief valve for the hot water heater and check out the town a bit better.  Nothing to speak of in town but we had a nice meal at Red Lobster.  Coming back by the turn to our place was a large motorhome from Maine.  The folks were lost and we stopped to tell them about Lake Greenwood.  Asked them is they were members of Family Motor Coach and they said yes so Lynda said to follow us and we were sure they could stay for free for the night, which they did.  Nice folks from Bath Maine.  Doug our contact guy here had no problem with them taking a site for the night.  He is really a nice fellow and Lynda and I have come to enjoy his company.  So we are heading for Savannah GA tomorrow for a night and hope to make it into the city to look around as we love it there.  I think its about 175 miles from here.  Lynda took some photos of the sunset with my iPhone tonight standing in the campground looking out at the lake.  I put one up below.  That camera on it takes beautiful shots and this view tonight was nice.  David

Southern slowing down

It's I guess human nature to settle in and get comfortable wherever you may be. Such is what has happened here at Lake Greenwood RV park. No we aren't, in fact can't, buy a lot, but it is nice. We went to lunch yesterday at a great local Japanese place and then to visit a seed company that has some interesting gardens Lynda loved. We walk every morning out on the country roads and Charlie can run free. We have met some real nice people, gone for a pontoon boat ride and I got some repairs done on the bus in the warm sunny weather. The people that run the place are so nice and we will recommend a week stay to our campers at the Elks.

Lynda at the Seed companies garden explaining what this plant is.

Getting Better here

Like camp granada mudda and fadda it has gotten better, much better for us here.  The day is just beautiful and Lynda, Charlie and I walked over two miles into the country and it is beautiful.  Heading out for a boat ride now and the Jets are winning so life is good.  More later.  David

Back had the boat ride and it was real nice.  Lynda loves those pontoon boats.  Jets won good day. 

Truman Show

Not much going on today in the Truman Show RV park. We met some more of the campers here and took a walk around the area with Charlie. After that we unloaded my sea kayak and went off to get some groceries and find a place to eat. Found this really great Mexican place and had a nice meal. Other than that pretty dull around here. Supposed to be a gathering for football watching in the clubhouse, I brought some snacks but only two others showed. And that's that for tonight. Lots of peace and quiet here that's for sure. Don't think we will make a week. To dead for Us. But again it's FREE. And so far no sales pitch at all. Oh saw a water snake by the boat ramp, orange with diamonds on back. The company guy here Doug says its a harmless local water snake. Then again what would you say it was if you were trying to sell the place. Too cold for swimming anyway. May take a kayak out for some exercise tomorrow. David

To Lake Greenwood SC

After pouring rain this morning we got the recall brake switch installed and a new air cleaner and left for our next stop.  We had taken an offer from our Family Motor Coach Association to stay at a posh RV resort for a week for free.  They are trying to sell lots and even though we are in no way going to buy one will bite for the free bee.  It was only a short 75 mile ride and after the Garmin again took us down a dead end street into tobacco road, where we had to unhook to turn around, we made it.  The resort is right on a lake that was dammed up in the thirties as part of the many hydro/electric facilities being built through out the south.  In talking to the developer and owner he said the whole place was just a run down trailer park when he bought it.  It is now perfect, full hook ups large concrete padded lots with landscaping everywhere.  A huge club house on the lake with pool, hot tub, boat dock etc.  We are impressed but as Lynda says she would rather be in a rustic State Park.  Hey but it's free, the key word, with full hookups.

A shot of our perfect campsite if you want to call it that.  More like a driveway.

Clubhouse with Lake behind.

 We just now came from a Wine and Cheese party they held at the club house for the guests.  We met some real nice people that were taking advantage of the FMCA offer like us.  It's alway good to chat with other RV people to share tips, places to go, etc.  Tomorrow the owner offered to take us on a motor boat ride on the lake.  I'll be there.

On the road coming in we were reminded of just where in the South we are by the large Confederate war monument in a little park.  Yes this is still South Carolina and I'm still a Yank to the locals.  Should be interesting checking out the area in the next few days during the day trips we plan.  David

Bus recall at Freightliner

Short 200 miles today going through three states, VIrginia, North Carolina, and now in South Carolina at the Freightliner service and training center. We need to get a recall done on some light switch they found to be a problem. Freightliner is the chassis the Bus is built on. They are owned by Damiler so many of our components are German. We are parked tonight in their parking lot that has electric hookups for RVs getting service. It has been raining hard for the past few hours but was beautiful for our ride today. During that ride I thought about just how fast everyone goes these days. The speed limit is 70 miles per hour, but that means they will do 75+. That is crazy. I set the cruise at 60 and feel that is plenty of speed. Years ago during the oil shortage and gas pump lines President Carter put the limit to 55 to save fuel. Today with wars being fought over oil we should bring that back. The amount of oil saved would be unreal. Just makes sense.

Well have to get up early to get the bus in the shop so goodnight. David

South on interstate 81

A shaky start with some false stops for fuel at stations that showed on the phone app to have diesel but in fact didn't. Tough when your driving a bus with a Honda hooked on back.
Things went fine after getting fuel and we sailed south for hours until, traffic! Yup for an hour and a half we creeped along due to a huge crash ahead of us. We got off and took side routes only to run into several accidents on those roads. But we did make it to our site on the river in Virginia.

We really like this place not because it's only $15 but it's right off the interstate, or right under it if you look at the one photo.  The river is beautiful and the College town of Radford is a great place to visit and get food which I did.  They have a small cafe in this campground that makes breakfast also.  Below some pictures from here and others from before.  Off to Gaffney SC tomorrow to get the Bus serviced as we have a recall with some light switch.  David

The one picture below is of us on the Empire State elevator.  Lynda likes that one but I don't think the others in the elevator were thrilled.  She took the one of me with the Statue of Liberty in the Bus window leaving Jersey City for points south.

More to follow.

Charlie going for a swim to get the many ticks off we found on us after our walk through tall weeds.

Lynda in the Empire state building elevator.  Looks like the cat that ate the bird.

From before us leaving Jersey City just getting on the NJ turnpike.

She has that how dare you take a photo of me look.  Lady Lynda I presume.

Off into PA

Yesterday we had a real nice Halloween in the city, enjoying the many costumes the children and adults wore.  After the Village Lynda forgot to mention we found a great British Pub right near the "Bitter End" where I saw Donovan once.  In we went and She was thrilled to get "Real Cider" the brand She drinks in the UK.  We had some nice onion soup with bread and headed over to the Path train station which we got a train that went within a few blocks of our campground/marina as it were.  When we got off the train there was a market going on with music, food etc.  I bought some tasty barreled pickles and garlic stuffed olives.  We had bought two loaves of hard crusted bread in the village and back to the Bus we went to have some with cheese. A wonderful day overall.  I love the City and wish I was rich enough to live there comfortably.

The next morning the sun was out and we took Charlie for his walk along the water looking out at New York harbor and the statue of liberty.  We then hooked up, drove the short distance to the NJ turnpike and headed west.  The trip was smooth and in no time we did 230 miles arriving at a RV park called Keystone RV.  It is right on the border of Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Easy on and off to the interstate and as most of the places we camp part of Passport America.  We set up under some trees and were home.  Actually everywhere is home in the Magic Bus.
I found a local restaurant that looked good on the iPhone and we walked the half mile into town.  It was really good and they had both Italian and Mexican food.

Met a fellow next to us in the RV park here that I met here once before two years ago.  Small world.  He is from Conn. and remembered me as the guy that ran the Lions club RV park in Florida.  Ha.

Lynda and I want to go back to NYC in the near future and spend a week, it was one of the best places we have visited and we need to delve more into things there.  Felt a bit sad about leaving.

Going to put some more pictures up now, tomorrow we head to the southern end of Virginia.  David