Nothing Broke!

I guess I did a good job with my preping to travel as when we returned Myrt to her home space and inspected the cupboard, nothing was broken and only a couple of things even showed any evidence of having moved.  Yea!  That was the best part of the day!

We left here on Monday morning, with me following Kirby in the car so I could go on to work after we checked our rig in at Camping World for repairs.  I don't know why the whole thing stressed me like it did, but I was really, really stressed by the time I got to the office!  I kept telling myself that I have comfortably traveled the oceans in a 35 foot sailboat and never felt like this.  Is it that it is all so new?  Probably.

We had packed bags for two nights max.  Packed clothes, pillows, dog bed, wine, slippers, vitamins....all the little things we need to be comfortable.  Then, the service rep at Camping World told us it may be a week.  I freaked over that one and went back to work panicked over what we would do. And - made plans not to work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with Friday being my last day.

What really happened is that they did some work and said we could come get her on Tuesday morning, which we did!  Hooray!  Not so bad after all!  But we will need to return next week when they get the parts in for the rest of the repairs.

At this point I could write a book about the day we had, all the newer looking rigs getting repaired,  my frustrations with the whole process.  All of this is so new to us!!

We were there to get Myrt by 9:15, trying to be nice and remain calm!  Then we headed back to Oak Plantation Campground with 'our girl'.

Oh, what fun it is to be new to all of this.  Sailing just came natural but I am sure there was a learning curve in there somewhere, I just don't remember it.  It took us two tries to get the rig where it needed to be, get it leveled and all hooked up again with water, power and sewer.  By the time we finished the rain was beginning....we got it done just in time.  Hopefully the next trip won't be so nerve wracking on me!

First Repairs

I am trying to keep this blog like journal for myself.  So, I need to say things like - We have to take our brand new rig in for repairs this week!  I am not a happy camper right now as I pack a bag because we can't stay with her while they work on her.

There is something wrong with our slides.  A technician came out on Thursday and took a look but then they decided that they need the rig at Camping World for 2 days for MORE diagnostics.  I thought that was why he came out but I guess I was wrong.  So, the first time we go someplace with our rig it is to the repair garage.  And this is just diagnosis.  Next week when the parts come, we will have to do it again.  Good practice I guess. I can find out what is going to break and what rattles too much!

The silver lining is that we are going to stay with our daughter and her family!  We need more time together before leaving.  I will miss her so much because she is my best friend.  So, this is the good part about having to have repairs made to a brand new rig!

Preview

You have to remember that we are new to this RVing game and we are excited to get it started.  Not too many more days now!  We have reservations beginning March 2 to stay at Buck Hall Recreation Area which is about 30 miles northeast of Charleston.  We have been there quite a few times for short visits and first saw it from our boat as we traveled south on the Intracoastal Waterway in 2006.  I can remember commenting at the time about the campground being right on the ICW.  So that will be our first stop on our adventure.  We are paid up til the 2nd and Kirby has one more doctor visit before we leave so we will just go up there and rest and relax!

We were there last June for a Father's Day cookout. You can see those pictures by clicking HERE.

So, yesterday we got in the truck and drove up there!  Anxious.  Excited.  We found the slip we have been assigned - Number 4 - and Kirby checked out the water and power.  I checked out the showers - or, excuse me - shower.  It will be spit baths for me unless it warms up.  No heat in there at all.

Here are Kirby and Jake checking it out.  Love that solid surface pad!  No dirt and gravel like we have here.  And - the rate is half price for us because we are old.  Hope WiFi works there!  If it does - you will be treated to more pictures when we get there!!

Biking on James Island

Yesterday we tried out the new bike rack that goes from the rig to the truck.  Kirby loaded up our bikes and we drove over to James Island County Park for a morning of exploring that gorgeous park.

We found the bike rack at Camping World and so far have no complaints about it.  It is pretty cool that it can fit either the truck or the rig.  Some of them get soldered on - and probably are more stable but this seemed to work just fine. So, with just one rack we can have it on the truck to go exploring and then we can have it on the rig to travel to a new destination.

The recent storm had moved on east and the skies were clearing.  It was still pretty chilly out - not even 60 degrees F, but the sun was warm when we left the parking lot.  James Island County Park has three loops for biking that all meet up so you can have lots of variety.  We found some really awesome spots for quiet and private picnics that we would love to try.  We saw marshes and tidal creeks and trees of all sorts.  We passed the dog park where all the dogs were chasing and splashing in the pond.  What we didn't see were crowds of people!  I love that we got to go during the week as I wind down my working.  (No Fridays!)

The only part that wasn't good was that Jake didn't get to go with us.  When we walk, of course he joins us but not on a long bike ride.  Kirby takes him on his bike here at the campground.  I don't approve but he rides his bike and Jake runs along with him.  They both love it and it helps keep Jake in good shape.

When we finished it was almost lunchtime so we headed over to one of our favorite spots on James Island, Smoky Oak Taproom, for a pulled pork sandwich and a cold brew.  Life is good!

Divesting

When we first moved to Charleston from our sailboat we had an old van filled with our only belongings.  I went shopping for a job and the day after I signed an offer letter we went out and purchased this commuter car.  I didn't really like it.  The glove box wouldn't stay closed, the windows sometimes didn't work and you never knew if you would be able to get the key out of the ignition!  But it always ran like a champ.  I didn't really think I would ever bond with it like I have some of my cars.  I actually never even named it.

But today when I walked away with cash in my pocket and no keys, I felt like crying.  Go figure - it is a stupid car!  And it is gone now!  We are that much closer to being free of belongings and on the road to our adventure!

I will get a rental car to use until we leave - then I will HAVE to learn to drive that great big truck!

Bikin'

Today I got home early enough to enjoy the warm weather we are having.  I have a new bike and am really enjoying it! Kirby has had a good bike for a couple of years but I couldn't see getting one for me until now.  I knew I wouldn't ride it in the neighborhood.  But here in the RV park - perfect!  I think we will really enjoy riding in our new life.  And there is nothing better for the expanding waistline that I have!

Kirby will need to find a bike rack that works for us.  Any suggestions.....

Slide Awning Install

Yesterday we had new awnings installed on all four of our slides.  Our new model didn't come with them and as the days and the weeks passed we realized the value in having them - especially when you are parked in a campground with loads of trees that are losing their leaves!  The top of the slides were filling up with dead brown leaves and making a mess.  And they were not protected from rain either.  So, we hired a couple of local guys (Coastal RV Center) who do a lot of work on other rigs here at Oak Plantation. Julian and Jesse were awesome.  Kirby watched them and said they "did it just the way I would have!".

First Houseguests

We had friends visit last week and stay in our RV with us.  Rick and Tanya came from Nova Scotia for six days.  Now, you have to wonder, how can 4 adults and a large dog live happily and comfortable in a 38 foot RV?  It was fantastic!  We had plenty of room and loads of fun!

Making the bed up the first time was a challenge.  The directions were worthless and we couldn't really remember the demo we got upon delivery.  But after a couple glasses of wine anything is possible.  The bed is an air mattress inside the sofa.  It is put together somewhat differently than a traditional sofa bed.  When you open it there is an air compressor to pump it up....no blowing at all!  There was still room around the sides to move and get in and out.  And there's straps to keep it from sliding off during the night.  Can't you just see that - as you toss around during the night all of a sudden the whole mattress dumps you on the floor?  Good thing there are straps.  So, anyway each night we made it up and each morning we took it down.

My galley is a 'one butt galley' and we did eat each breakfast and all but one dinner at home.  I planned very simple meals so we would have lots of time to play.  No dishwasher but since everyone was right there in the same room with me, I really didn't mind doing dishes....I wasn't off in another room while everyone else had fun.  And Tanya dried each time....thanks, Tanya!

So, we have found that there is plenty of space for anything we might need to do.  Having friends stay with us is FUN!  Like camping!

Best Friend for a Moment

I had thought that since the boating world is so friendly that the camping world would be the same.  Maybe it is because it is winter and most folks (including us) don't go out but we just haven't met or talked to very many people.  Some of them won't even speak when we are walking Jake.  And it gets dark early.  So I am hopeful for the future.  I love meeting new people from all over the country.

It was still a very nice afternoon when I got home from work yesterday so we were sitting outside in the brown grass and dirt facing the swings and the dog run.  (yes, they have a dog run here - pretty cool, huh?)  A woman with four - yes FOUR little bitty dogs came walking by and those dogs really grabbed Jake's attention!  And mine.

They were so cute, I just had to go talk to her about them.  Let's see, there was a regular chihuahua, a long haired chihuahua, a jack russell-chihuahua mix and a yorkie-maltese mix.  They were all so, so cute!  But yap, yap, yap!  They were from Michigan and here on a two week vacation.  I would leave Michigan this time of year too!

So, for a few minutes I had a new best friend.  It was fun!

The Child in Me!

Right behind our RV is a small children's area.  We love seeing and hearing the children out doing what we believe they should be doing - being outdoors getting exercise.  I needed to feel like a child - but darn - the seat started squeezing my hips and it hurt!  Not made for butts the size of mine I guess!

Day by Day

We are mentally ready to go but I still have until the end of February to work.  We are just enjoying living in our sweet new home.  Here is a picture of Kirby, Jake and Myrt - Myrt is our 5th Wheel, Jake is our dog.  It was a sunny day so we were chasing the late sun to stay warm.  We have certainly adjusted to the small space but I really don't know what it will be like when I need to secure everything for travel.  It is funny, somehow securing things on a boat just became such second nature to me that I never thought about it.  I knew what I had to do.  But a trailer is not like a boat.  A boat is much more gentle a movement.  I think everything in Myrt will be moving and shaking and rattling around - especially with speed bumps like we have here at Oak Plantation! LOTS of them!  I am going to need to do some serious securing soon!

Sunrise for a New Year

This was our sunrise this morning at Oak Plantation.  The first day of 2013 - the year that I retire and the year that we will begin our adventure.  I hope our travels are as colorful as this sunrise.

I plan to retire on February 22 - or sooner if I can! (Kirby is already retired and has been acting as Mr. Mom for 5 years now)  Until then we will continue to reside at this RV park which is in the greater Charleston, SC area.  Our home is sold (we closed escrow just last Friday), our STUFF is gone and all we have is what is in our new home - and Avalanche 330 (which is 38 feet long....model numbers seem to mean nothing!)  I am loving this simple life which is very similar to the lifestyle we had when we lived on our sailboat and cruised around the Atlantic and the Pacific.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!  Suzie