Still in the Meadows but not for much longer...

The last days on the Eastern Shore are going by very quickly.  It won't be long before we are stowing our gear and preparing to depart the Shore.  This is not going to be easy and that has already become abundantly apparent.  We have enjoyed a fantastic quality of life on the Shore with many friends just like family.  Yesterday we watched a Red Tailed Hawk pair rest in the branches of the Sweetgum tree behind our rig.  It was a good day, a very good day.

Note to self, Take more pictures.

The shot above was taken in May 2013 at Trails End Campground on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  This was our first RV home and we stayed there for two months.  The campground was located very close to our workplaces.

Even though we have had a significant health interruption, we appear to remain on schedule for a January 2014 departure from the Shore.  On November 1st, I had two stents installed in my heart.  My new rapper name will be Two Stent Steve.

Where did the Summer Go?

Busy is what we have been this summer.  We had not intended to start updating our Blog until we departed the Shore.  I had thought about posting a monthly entry just to keep the roll going, but because we have been so busy with “things” I elected to let it go.  Now seems like a good time to nudge the inertia as we wait for our Government to get back up and running.

We have watched the summer flash by at light speed it seems.  With that the change or retirement from my career of 30 years is on the doorstep.  As we toiled to keep up with our career duties, we have also been learning, repairing and modifying our 5^th wheel coach to be ready for the planned January 2014 departure from the Shore.  Our list of projects included:

·      Replace a dead coach battery, and upgraded the nuts and washers from zinc to stainless steel.

·      Investigated a failed bedroom HVAC supply plenum; we are still working that one, but we have an idea to try when the weather improves.

·      Investigated the incompatibility of our generator and inverter.  We have since developed a work-around that gives us some level of functionality.  We are still working on this one too.

·      Investigated failure of the tank (Fresh/Gray/Black) monitor system.  We have not made much progress on this repair, but have figured out how to live without it for now.  We may need help with this repair.

·      Located and re-caulked a few leaks spots on the roof

·      Located and repaired a kinked living room HVAC condensate drain line.

·      Located and removed failed Poppet water check valve.

·      Switched locations of whole coach and drinking water filters to their appropriate locations. They were installed in each other’s place which restricted water flow/pressure to the whole coach.

·      Installed bumper protection in front of the rigid hydraulic brake line in the garage.

·      Installed a storage shelf under the coach next to the generator.

·      Installed an improved drinking water spigot and added an in counter liquid soap dispenser.

·      We studied and learned the theory, operation and setup of the solar controller battery charging system.  We also found and repaired a leaky junction box of this system that is located on the roof.

·      We studied and learned the theory, operation and setup of the 3000 Watt Inverter.  It includes a 4 stage battery charger which we also setup for compatibility with our flooded batteries.

·      We designed and built a fuel tank gauge for the generator 30 gallon gasoline tank.

·      We excavated our landlord’s property, removed an existing PVC water hydrant and replaced it with a frost proof steel hydrant for the coming winter. 

These were the high points, and in addition to these things we performed the normal routine maintenance on the coach as well as assisted in tending our landlord’s 30 acre property.  Needless to say we have stayed very busy this summer and the summertime just flew by for us.  What's next for us?  Finishing our careers here on the eastern shore by mid January.  Then the first fair weather window after that we will pull chocks and head south.  Stopping in NC to say hello to family, then on to South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. That will finish out the cold weather and by that time we should have a better idea of where we will head in the spring.

2013 Fourth of July - - Breakers View, Corolla, NC

Amazing, fun, talented, delicious, kind, funny, loving, beautiful, luxurious, smart are a few of the adjectives that come to mind when I think back on our recent 2013 Fourth of July family reunion.  While we started this blog as a full-time RV lifestyle record, this post does not include the RV, other than we buttoned Penelope the 5^th Wheel up, and set off without our home.

Cousin Joyce and sister Judi organized the family retreat at Breakers View in Corolla, NC.   As usual there were multiple generations, this time four to be exact.  Many thanks to Jennifer for insisting that Gari and I travel to the Corolla reunion, and to the rest of the family for backing her up.  Because of our common aversion to heavy holiday traffic, KittyKat was not going to attend the reunion either, but as the time got closer, all of us became more excited about the event.  I worked from KittyKat’s house in Salisbury on Wednesday 7/3; we cut her grass then traveled to Penelope in Pocomoke where KittyKat slept for a few hours on our new sleeper sofa.  It was the first full night test for the Ashley sleeper sofa.  It has an air-mattress that inflates with the push of a button, and then deflates with another button push!  KittyKat gave the air-mattress her seal of approval :)

We left Penelope in the dark of night at 3:00 AM on July 4^th.  This was our strategy to avoid what we thought would be very heavy holiday traffic.  It worked out just right; we sailed through Duck, NC just an hour before their July 4^th Parade started, whew!  We soon arrived at Breakers View a magnificent beachfront home.  Rob and Joyce have constructed and decorated this beach refuge with a decade of persistence and generously share their labor of love.  What a treat it was for all of us!

It has been at least a few years since most of this part of our family have seen the others, and even longer since we have all gathered together at the same time.  Thank you to Joyce and Judi for planning the event and to Rob for setting up the Breakers View facilities & amenities.  Some small but significant upgrades since the last visit were the addition of commercial quality beach chairs and umbrellas for those long hard work hours on the pristine Corolla beach; it’s hard work but someone has to do it and it looks like the entire family is willing to help!  Another delightful surprise was the addition of a competition quality Cornhole game.  And the beach is the most perfect place for a Cornhole playing arena.  As the crowd suspected Craig and Rob were natural contenders, but this year had a surprise Cornhole power-house in the form of Grandmama KittyKat!

Soaking up the sun

Cornhole Champions!

Of course the visit was filled with delicious meals, snacks and drinks of the day.  Everyone pitched in to obtain and whip up the delectable treats, meals and beverages.  As usual Joyce with the assistance of Judi provided the culinary planning and leadership necessary for such a successfully succulent reunion. 

  Fruit Pizza compliments of Ella, delicious and Patriotic! 

 Joyce and Judi in charge!

Some of the men, old and young, participated in the art of fishing from the surf to offshore.  Many keepers were caught to the delight of the fishermen… and women (I see KittyKat with a fishing rod).

 In Shore Fishing Success

Off Shore Fishing Success