Blog from Sunday the 18th April.
Saturday was a run from Plant City where I had overnighted after attending the night airshow at Sun N Fun at the Lakeland Airport. It was a veritable display of precision fly by various flyers. Manfred from Austria did his magnificent gliding display with even moire pyrotechnics than the last time I saw him! At late dusk, the 4 T6’s of the Shell precision flying team made a mockery of normal formation work wit h fractional metre spacing in the minimum light and incredible Lopresti illumination as well as continual sparkler like trails. The smoke was illuminated by spotlights aimed backwards on each aircraft. Must have been hell for the guy flying 6 o’clock!!
Back to a very 60ish motel for the night and next day it was an early start to go to Crystal River to inspect my potential RV purchase. About 6 yard sales interrupted the process and it was 1pm before I arrived at the Jackson’s small acreage about 12 Kim north of Crystal River. The pristine condition of the RV indeed got my attention and a detailed inspection underneath courtesy of Joe’s garage creeper, confirmed good maintenance. All grease points well and truly attended to and new brake linings all round! The Allison Auto trans oil was like new and a recent filter change as was the oil in the big 300HP turbo caterpillar V8 which was at the rear of the Gillig chassis. This chassis is utilised as the base of City buses all over America; the serial of this one is 40,000 something. Very successful rig. I test drove it and the ride was soooo smooth compared to my last one!~ Then a deposit down after a successful negotiation and plan to return with the folding stuff the following Thursday.
Back to a motel at Port Richey and a meal at a Pirates Den and to bed after a very exciting day.
Next morning it was up early and back to Lakeland Airport for the last day of Sun N Fun. But it was immensely heavy rain as I came down 19 and across Highway 60 to get back on 92 to Lakeland. It certainly affected the crowd. Very few people, so it was a good day; if a bit wet underfoot, at the airshow. The US Airforce did an impressive show in the Hornets with a 3000 foot ceiling.
Then with a big bag of pamphlets, it was back to the east coast organise the folding stuff at the local bank of America; very funny!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not bore anyone with the problems. But 8 separate transactions later it was nearly accumulated.
Tuesday, it was north to Lady lake via Kissimmee. Arrived at the Ovens is afternoon and it was very good to be back to such lovely people. They had just returned from a holiday in Brazil a few days before and had a bit of air travel wog and that matched my lingering jet lag. A fair bit of anxiety as well had contributed!!
Wednesday was a boat trip over the Lake Harris lake system wit5h bill and Jill and 3 other couples from the harbour Hills community. It is called the harbour Hills mariners and they do monthly outings. About 10 boats in the flotilla for the 30 mile trip to Mission Hills Resort to the east. A lovely buffet lunch and an educated 45 minute talk by a very senior researcher from Florida water on the background to the aquifer and the lake system in the area. She also outlined the measures being taken to keep it and improve it after industry in the early part of the 20th century damaged it!!
It was while I was there that the RV vendor called and said he had to go away urgently for 5 days, could I come straight away!! About a 1and a half hour boat trip and then 80 miles!! We got back to Bill’s bout 4pm; and thanks to daylight saving, we were able to head off to the west coast of Florida in my rental car. But I had to make one more daily withdrawal from a bank to get the final amount. We managed!! The trip took about 90 minutes and the deal was done. The whole of their dining table was covered in 100’s and 50’s as it was tallied up!!! The important unencumbered title was appropriately signed and it was of to the local Wal-Mart to get fuel. Switches EVERYWHERE and very small labels. So lots of help from my torch and the initial drive home was in the dark!!! Bill followed to cover the fact that only one taillight worked. The high clearance lights did work!! The speedo light did not work. It absolutely flys. It can go to 70mph sooo easily!! We got back to harbour Hills by 9.30pm in one piece and managed to reverse all 38 feet and 15 tonne of it into a driveway of a home that was donated for my use!! Thanks folks!!
Next day it was down to start on the many small jobs, lights first. 2 combination turn / tail had been miswired since 1986!! No wonder the lamps continually expired prematurely!!
Then down to the County office to get the Tags. Rego plate with a small sticker on it showing expiry date. Thank goodness I had my Florida Licence, soo easy; except for the payment of 7% sales tax, I paid it in $20 bills straight from the ATM’s daily spew!! 2 people had to count it. They don’t deal in cash tax payments often they said, but they were very efficient and caring, thanks Marion.
Back to Harbour hills and fit the “Tag”. To find that starting the engine is a little difficult; sorry impossible./ So 2 new GFIANT 12 volt batteries had to be found on Saturday. NAPA auto spares carried them. 50cm long, 24 cm wide and 28cm high, they weigh 45kg each!! But only cost $178US each. IT REALLY spins the Cat now!! Best move I have made to date. No more problems.
Then in Rental car to Orlando where the all important GPS was bought on special at Wal-Mart Kissimmee. The top of line Garmin for AU$200. Car taken back and the small bus service from a9irport back to my door at Harbour Hills and now I am ready to hit the road tomorrow.
Sunday 25th, ANZAC Day, is a little overcast and clear. Up highway 27 towards Ocala and try to get some Propane at the U Haul there. Found it and now I can have a cup of tea without having to start the microwave. A large Wal-mart beckoned and it allowed more shopping and a quiet night. My fridge would not work on propane!!! So I went to see the experts.
I went to the big RV Service Centre, and they told me it would be nearly 500 bucks to fix, But they did point out the circuit board!!! to me. I went to a parking lot in the shade at Macca’s and cleaned it all and connected power and gas, voila works perfectly and gas starts instantly and automatically~!!!! The big Gas / 12 V and 110 volt refrigerator and freezer now works perfectly. Cold beer and milk.
Went north to Waldo where a large Flea Market operates; but only on Friday thru Sunday!! There is a marvellous “collective” of antique outlets in a very big multilevel old factory. So that occupied the balance of the day. I was also on the search for a small scooter and a carry to fit in the 2 inch tow fitting on the back of the RV. I found both, but I will look further. Scooters can be had from $699 new. 110cc four-stroke and look real good, even have red ones!~
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