tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34802003541750602852024-02-19T23:06:13.214-08:00Rocinante and Noel Spalding USA 2010Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-54215562549683307382010-08-07T12:06:00.000-07:002010-12-08T16:43:16.310-08:0027th June to the 6th August 2010 in Rocinante<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2zogw2hmI/AAAAAAAAC4A/PuVQ3SL-mY4/s1600/DSC02625+Paul+P+and+Noel.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2zogw2hmI/AAAAAAAAC4A/PuVQ3SL-mY4/s320/DSC02625+Paul+P+and+Noel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502751828287587938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2zicASO4I/AAAAAAAAC34/nQTURNA_3K4/s1600/DSC02731.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2zicASO4I/AAAAAAAAC34/nQTURNA_3K4/s320/DSC02731.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502751723930925954" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2xlWj8OHI/AAAAAAAAC3o/zmXS9sJO-vA/s1600/DSC02239.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2xlWj8OHI/AAAAAAAAC3o/zmXS9sJO-vA/s320/DSC02239.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502749574986217586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2xPE6Y2eI/AAAAAAAAC3g/1_wE0AA_4Xg/s1600/DSC02189.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TF2xPE6Y2eI/AAAAAAAAC3g/1_wE0AA_4Xg/s320/DSC02189.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502749192291408354" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:24px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18.0pt;">27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>. June till the 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> of August 2010-08-06<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">At <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">407 East Dewey Avenue</st1:street> <st1:city st="on">Youngstown</st1:city></st1:address>; this location is not what my first impressions<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>led me to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Spent today<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> "</span>no-more-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">gapping</span>" the many nail holes in the shingles on the roof from the inside!!.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very poor roofing installer many years ago and a few larger holes effectively repaired.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Filled the long gap alongside the chimney.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Should be weatherproofed for a year or so now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Borrowed<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>3 foot pry bar from Ken the neighbour at 405 and removed the top floor kitchen bench and the entire wall covering over the rotted and rusted out cast iron stand (stink) pipe that runs from the basement to through the roof.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The section from the floor level of first floor to basement is<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>totally rotted away.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Will replace with 3” plastic and fit new<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>waste pipe from first floor kitchen sink which was doing all the water damage. 90° F today! Prepare to lift flooring of front porch by car jack and fit 4” beams on bricks<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to re-level it from the 40cm depression in middle that exists now!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Relax<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>after a big day by watching Spanish Grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Prix</span> on TV!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day I am able to contact the recalcitrant contractor who accepted large payment up front for work and then did a “no-show”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He turns up for a meeting and is a “new man” after problem with cocaine!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He is a 49 year old ex CEO and Inventor with an MBA and a world<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>patent!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=1996039232">http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=1996039232</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">He assures me that he will<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>provide labour to the<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>value plus interest<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for our<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>payment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am hopeful but not confident!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Get all the plumbing materials,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the neighbour has a utility and<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is a great help with 10 feet pipe lengths.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The roof<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>has come through its fir5st <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rainshower</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">withy</span> no leaks!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">On Tuesday the 29<sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span></sup> I am able to jack up the porch deck and now it is level again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Screw <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">doublers</span> under all the suspect<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>decking material between the bearers!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rental managing Agent has and is a problem,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>has avoided meeting and now I find that he has taken out a small claims case that was undefended by virtue of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>supplying the court with an invalid address for us!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So we did not find out it was happening!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The other house in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Youngstown</st1:city></st1:place> is about 2 miles away and Jeff the ex<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>CEO takes me to the Realtor who still has the keys.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We then visit a nice single family home in <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Labelle</span> Street</st1:address></st1:street> is a reasonable; for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Youngstown</st1:place></st1:city>, street.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A slight amount of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>water leakage in rear bedroom,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but investigation by Jeff assures me that the repair would be negligible materials and 2 hours work to properly waterproof the displaced shingles and weatherproofing around a chimney.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day Ken and I head over to warren where a 4<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>apartment property is located.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jeff, the CEO,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is to meet us there and take us to the house. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Warren</st1:city></st1:place> is quite nice,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but as we get closer to our address,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the atmosphere alters decidedly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What was a prestigious street in 1920 is now an unsavoury location.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The neighbour to the rear of the property is helpful to us in gaining access. He was a source of information about the area. His security precautions were<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>quite extensive! The City Authorities has screwed <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>8’ X 4’ sheets of ply over all the front doors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This was to stop the prostitutes gaining access for their activities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The lower left apartment had been completely renovated to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">liveable</span> condition in 2008 and the ex CEO was to live in it while he renovated the other 3 units. Of course this has not happened and a roofing contractor that only did half the roof before leaving the job has resulted into massive<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>water damage everywhere and vast amounts of the ceiling have “black mould”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.essortment.com/all/whatisblackmo_rfls.htm"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU">http://www.essortment.com/all/whatisblackmo_rfls.htm</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">No one will work where this has occurred. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The winters here are quite terrible with -20°Someone has already unscrewed all the heating water radiators,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but they were still on site, all the copper plumbing fittings have been stolen. Remarkably the very large furnace boiler and gas hot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">wat</span>6er system are both still there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I arrange for these to be removed and taken to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Youngstown</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The City had posted a demolition order on the house that was going to happen in August…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Have the City water Authority reconnect the water to 407 Dewey to find a myriad of leaks in the 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>units.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A trip to the hardware store to buy a variety of plastic fittings and repair them!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Test the sewerage system by dumping all my waste from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Rocinante</span> into the basement main!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No blockages!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thank goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cut all the grass at the <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Labelle</span> Street</st1:address></st1:street> house,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>now looks good.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Friday is a trip to The Courthouse to talk to the Small Claims Office and write a detail rebuttal to the judgement of 6 weeks previously.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This was to be presented to the Judge on our behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I had information that my presence in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Youngstown</st1:place></st1:city> was not totally appreciated by this Realtor whom I had made accusations against in my letter to the Court..<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I headed for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ravenna</span></st1:place></st1:city> about 60 miles to the NW and as it was the July 4<sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">th</span></sup> long weekend, I had heard that a concert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">btof</span> the Cleveland Symphony orchestras<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Festival Band<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>at The Blossom performance bowl in the country side near there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.tickco.com/venue_schedules/blossom_music_center.htm"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU">http://www.tickco.com/venue_schedules/blossom_music_center.htm</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">On Saturday I head to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Hartville</span> Flea market.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.hartvillemarketplace.com/">http://www.hartvillemarketplace.com/</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">This has to be the biggest and best flea market I have ever seen. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is operated by the Amish Community that is very large here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bought some great bargains and my only toast rack I have found this trip!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The 3<sup>rd</sup> of July evening fireworks were readily<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>viewed from my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Wal</span>-Mart parking spot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Great display.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Flat batteries on Sunday morning!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had left the headlights on.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had moved in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Wal</span>-Mart parking lot late at night and the bright Parking lot lights meant I did not see that my lights were on!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The joy of an on board generator saves the morning!! And I am able to go out to the Blossom Festival area and await the evening performance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have met some marvellous people here,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>very friendly and have been taken out sightseeing to local beauty spots. The concert is fantastic and I shared it with 25,000 others.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fireworks at the conclusion of the performance;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>which concluded with the 1812 Overture!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Were magnificent.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Traffic jam to end all traffic jams <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">afterw</span>2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">ar</span>5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">ds</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I just waited till all had disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next morning it was a little bit of local sightseeing and my friend’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">wante</span>4d their 95<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>year old mother to meet me and to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Rocinante</span>. She arrived in her small 4 cylinder sedan and was more agile than the kids!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next port of call was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Darlington</span> on <st1:place st="on">SW<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pennsylvania</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is a little <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Air</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> here and I have an invite to park on a property<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for a couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is not far from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Youngstown</st1:place></st1:city> and I can get back there if necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Stinking hot for next few days and I had power connected to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Rocinante</span> and was able to relax<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on the small farm,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thank you Jeffrey and the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A little bit of local exploring and and a good look over the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Local</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Vocational</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Very well set up, impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The rides in your Corvette will stay with me for a lifetime,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and I did not realise how nice big cats can be.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Back up north on the 8<sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">th</span></sup> July to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and a revisit to the farm at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Edinboro</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They have contacted me and said they have some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Spalding</span> sports memorabilia<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to pick up!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Also was able to visit Joe who lives on his extensive property down the road on Saturday the 10<sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He has an ex SA<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Harvard as well as a J3 Cub, 1951 170 Cessna and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Stearman</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A lovely 7 place hangar as well as a very big separate 2 airplane workshop.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">spraybooth</span> on the side of the workshop and large <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">aircon</span> / heated work area. 2200 feet of level and good approach runway make for a lovely property.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">On Sunday morning I headed for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rochester</st1:place></st1:city> and the last house to investigate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A tenant was installed in November 2008 and had been terribly silent!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I arrived in <st1:city st="on">Rochester</st1:city> after travelling through eastern <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:state></st1:place> and large tracts<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>of wine grapes and Vineyards.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very beautiful country.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Refuel in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state> at good rate; $2.80 US Gallon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Arrive at the house at 7.30pm and no answer on door.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let myself in as the mail in the post box<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was not the names of my tenants!~<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Obviously occupied,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>food and very tidy<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>setup,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>lounge and bedroom and kitchen furnished.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Clothes neatly hung and good supply of food in 2<sup>nd</sup> bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Investigate basement and no gas nor electricity connected.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I turned the water off and wired the valve closed!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lefty message on front door to contact me and removed the locks and knobs.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Checked into the local Wal-Mart and had a comfortable night. Early next morning went back to street and asked at Ex??<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tenants<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>parents house and was informed that they left our place some 18 months ago!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But no-one in the street had ever seen the mystery occupants!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Went to local bank to open an Account into our LLC<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Pty Ltd)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Company’s name so the back rent being held by Social Security can be<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>recovered??!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And then went to Social Security and stood in a line for 2 hours and 5 minutes; after the severe security check, to be told to ring a number I already had!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So was given an alternate number that had a full message bank!~!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Off to the Sheriffs Dept,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>City Police and Eviction Office to discuss Squatters.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Result=<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>squatters have rights, Landlords<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>have a problem. Was told to call police when I wanted access.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next morning at 5.30AM<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am knocking on the front door; my notes had been removed!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am using a length of 4 x 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>softwood<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for a door knocker!~!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No answer, so I let myself in and surprise,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>houses squatters are not here,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but all their stuff is.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You see I have not been inside before!!~<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Well that was what I told the Police when they turned up 10 minutes later after I made the 911 call.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In fact 4 cars arrived within the next 10 minutes!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And later a 5<sup>th</sup>!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They went inside with guns drawn and I followed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They said that it was the neatest squat that they had ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They went through everything…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>pockets books, clothes, bags,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>under bedding,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>found nothing but latest Playboy magazine!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They did get the names of the 2 occupants<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from paperwork. The Police were marvellous and all got little koalas!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And I got a signed incident report! The occupants had been using a hot rock cooker on the table to cook with!! And candles and all blind were drawn.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They said I could toss all the stuff out on the street,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but I was only one person and did not need a confrontation from someone who was clearly my build of larger and about mid 30’;s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from clothing size and styles!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They suggested as an alternate to move all the stuff into the unrenovated 2<sup>nd</sup><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>apartment in the building,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but bit sounded like to much work, and still dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I went and bought all new locks and a bunch of padlocks and locked the water valves closed and used 3 inch screws and 2 x 4 studs to fasten all the doors except the front door from the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The front door was fitted with conventional and deadlocks;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>both locked and I gave a Realtor the approval to list and sell the property.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I did one last inspection and slammed the front door and as I locked the deadlock, it sounded like a kid was on a skateboard on the first floor room!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Could not be,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But someone may have come in,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>so opened the front door again and as I stepped inside,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the rest of the suspended ceiling in that room fell down on me!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Only injury was a large bruise on my left arm above the wrist as I protected my head!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I disconnected the power wiring that was holding the parts connected to the li8ught fittings and stacked all the panels against the wall, locked the door again and left!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What else could I do!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was due to be at Paul and Lorraine Irwin’s farm in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ontario</st1:place></st1:state> that night!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>$1000<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>would have been necessary to replace the suspended ceiling in both the bottom room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fine wire used to suspend the ceiling frames had rusted away over the many decades since they had been installed 50 years ago and not a cent would be added to the resale value. In fact the realtor that had just inspected it and said he would list it,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>suggested that as the house next door had<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>plywood over every window and door,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>would<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>dramatically affect the value of our place!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next stop was <st1:place st="on">Niagara</st1:place> and a walk along the shore of the Falls on the Canadian side never fails to impress. The road from <st1:city st="on">Rochester</st1:city> to <st1:place st="on">Niagara</st1:place> follows the river and is very impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Customs and Immigration was a breeze, I was the only vehicle in the RV and Bus queue.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My GPS<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>did not cover <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So after I missed the turn off that bypassed <st1:city st="on">Toronto</st1:city>,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had a very interesting trip that took me through downtown <st1:city st="on">Toronto</st1:city> at about 5pm and then through the <st1:place st="on">Chinatown</st1:place>!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In a 38 foot long apartment!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually got onto the highway that goes NW<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to the Irwin farm some 160 Km away.;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>arrive on the farm at 8pm.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A LONG day!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Irwin’s farm is called Boar Rock farm, 100 acres of lovely country and the new runway is very well positioned!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">A nice level place in front of the garage gave me a panoramic view to the west, the newly painted house and barn are a dramatic<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>improvement to their property. Young Dalton who is 15 is in <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">British Columbia</st1:state></st1:place> with his Grandparents and is ready to do his first solo flight as a aeroplane pilot.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Quite an achievement. His sister Kassidy is about 12 and away at a lake<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>home of a school friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I spend 4 days cleaning the underside of Rocinante with detergent by high air pressure and after a couple of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>coverages of that, I had my high pressure water blaster do the final clean. Looks good.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Did a few jobs<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>with Paul and had a big rubbish tip run and rear porch spring clean.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Head off on Sunday about 9am and head to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Grey</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Roots</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.greyroots.com/"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">http://www.greyroots.com/</span></a></span><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is a history of the area where Paul and <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lorraine</st1:place></st1:state> live. The Extension Officer is an older Australian fellow. Very interesting place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was down the Highway 21 which borders <st1:place st="on">Lake Huron</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I crossed back into the <st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>at <st1:city st="on">Sarnia</st1:city>; <st1:city st="on">Port Huron</st1:city> is on the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> side.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a 1 and a half hour queue for Immigration over the river bridge that separates the 2 countries. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The free Black eyed Peas free concert in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Sarnia</st1:place></st1:city> did nothing to ease the traffic congestion! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I rolled up the north bound highway for 4 miles to the nearest Wal-Mart!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For the night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Filled up with fuel at the Murphy Petroleum at Wal-Mart for the cheapest so far, $2.76 a gallon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Travelled west on State 90 and then 57<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to get to <st1:city st="on">Greenville</st1:city> 2/3<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>of the way across <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Michigan</st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to yet another Wally world!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">My destination on Tuesday is the home of Gary and Carol Tripp. I met <st1:city st="on">Gary</st1:city> on a Greyhound bus between <st1:city st="on">Indianapolis</st1:city> and <st1:placename st="on">Benton</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Harbour</st1:placetype> in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Michigan</st1:place></st1:state> in 1975!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And met again in <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place> in January 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So it was back to Grand haven again after 35 years., The last time was when Gillian and I were doing our US trip in’75<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and Gary arranged for us to stay withy his Mum and dad and younger Brother then.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We attended his Grandparents 60<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary back then. The old family home was being just put on the market when I arrived today.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His Mother passed away just a few months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>WE did all the tourist things. There is a great <st1:placename st="on">Maritime</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype>;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Grand haven is on the shoreline of <st1:place st="on">Lake Michigan</st1:place> which is an enormous area of water; like open ocean!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That evening<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>we<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>went to the Water and light show.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Haven_Musical_Fountain"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Haven_Musical_Fountain</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">It was quite magnificent, but a chilly night!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Carol went off to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chicago</st1:city></st1:place> to do Grand kid stuff and Gary and I were left to our own devices!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So we installed<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a ham radio HF<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>radio in his Ford<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Utility and made a fantastic transmitting <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>loop antenna<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>setup in his attic.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Housing association in which their Condo is located prohibits external antennas!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was able to use his<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>tools to fabricate a reinforcing aluminium plate for the Refrigerator door in Rocinante and several other small jobs; there are always small jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day was a very early start<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to Ludington where the regular ferry crosses massive Lake Michigan and departs from for <st1:city st="on">Manitowoc</st1:city> on the <st1:place st="on">Wisconsin</st1:place> shore. The ferry is a coal fired steam ferry that was built in 1953 to carry about 40 rail cars of coal and general cargo.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was modified in mid 70s to carry about 300 cars on 2 decks and big motorhomes like Rocinante and semis as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It cost me $269 for Ronnie and me and saved 9 hours travel by road. Which is through <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chicago</st1:city></st1:place>, so you can add another hour!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The trip is 60 miles across the <st1:place st="on">Lake</st1:place> and takes 4 hours and a time zone!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was ashore at 1.30pm and was on my way to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Oshkosh</st1:place></st1:city> where I arrived at about 2.30pm.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had pre booked a camp site several weeks ago and when I arrived at the gate, I was told to park somewhere in town and come back in2 hours as the<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>grounds were too waterlogged for big rigs. It transpired that the heaviest July rains on record had occurred the day before!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>3” in a couple of hours!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I came back in 2 hours to be given the same story. The organisers were trying to get permission from large retailers in town who had large car parks,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to have the RV’s park there!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did not come to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Oshkosh</st1:place></st1:city> to park 5 miles from the venue!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I went down a side road and a farmhouse with a couple of acres beside it; which was opposite the campground, had tents and caravans and a few small RVs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I parked on the road and when I went in saw that a 44 foot rig was quite well bogged.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I walked the property and found a spot where I thought I could get Rocinante in to.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I negotiated with the owners and had them clear the way of victims; sorry pedestrians and faced myself into the driveway on the property. I locked Ronnie in 1<sup>st</sup> and hit the place at 20 mph!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I got right to my assigned place with disappearing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had my 8 x 2 short planks out and backed her onto these which stopped her disappearing to the axles.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was in for the week and only 15 minutes walk from the main gate at about the same cost as the Campground and closer!! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><a href="http://airventuresiteupdate.blogspot.com/2010/08/hey-gimme-back-my-blog.html">http://airventuresiteupdate.blogspot.com/2010/08/hey-gimme-back-my-blog.html</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Felkers Farm at 1864 Waukau Av<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was to be my home for the week. As I was set up in a few minutes, I wandered down to the open air Theatre. It was a 25 M wide and 15 M high blow up screen. The projectors were located in the back of a big tray pantechnicon and shot out the back.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All the movies had an aviation theme of course!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The camp site was just 200 M<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">EAA</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> and a source of Wi-Fi.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Perfect, <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>had airconditioned comfort and a power point and comfortable chairs. My weekly Airshow pass gave me unlimited access to the museum as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">It was onto the airshow ground early on every day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Registered at the Overseas Visitor Tent and there are hundreds of Australians here. Several large organised groups. They were accommodated in vacant school rooms!! In town!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Accommodation over AirVenture week is big business.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">There are no words that can describe what AirVenture; or Oshkosh Airshow, really is.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Gigantic and immense are just not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The website is a good start,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.eaa.org/photos/"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">http://www.eaa.org/photos/</span></a></span><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">23<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>DC3’s flew over in formation on Tuesday before landing to celebrate their 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Hoards of T6 Harvards created aluminium overcast and private jet fighter were so common, about 10 T39 Albatrosses were in the air bat one time!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">As things dried out, thousands more private aircraft arrived. They had been waiting at numerous local airfields for the OK to come in.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Friday at 12 midday was time for the International Visitors Parade march and official welcome by the CEO of EAA<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and also a welcome from the founder Paul <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;">Poberezny.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was fortunate to speak briefly with him and shake his hand at the end of the ceremony. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>See Picture at head of this blog!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A couple of thousand people were in the march and at 5.30pm that afternoon a free dinner with unlimited beer and wine was provided.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Canadians and the Brazilians<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>were outstanding performers in this arena!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was early to bed this night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Saturday night was the first Night air<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>display and fireworks display afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>See the above photo link for magic photos of both these events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">Asleep at the Wheel;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.asleepatthewheel.com/"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU">http://www.asleepatthewheel.com/</span></a></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>gave a magnificent Show in the theatre in the Woods at 6pm before the Night airshow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>People dancing in the aisles,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I even was invited to get up!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Just lucky<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>some days!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">After the spectacular finale of the Fireworks, it was in the stampede to get out of the very dark grounds!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I managed to find a courtesy bus back to the Museum to save my aching feet!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">I had planned an early start back to <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place> on Sunday morning; BUT..<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had not bought any Air Show T Shirts!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So at 7.30 am I was on the airfield taking photos as the sun rose behind the aircraft. A great photo of the C5A with the sun creating a halo around it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>By 9am I had backed out of my bog hole of a week before onto solids ground and was on my way SW to avoid going through <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> or its environs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">Down through <st1:state st="on">Wisconsin</st1:state> into <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state> w on I 39 where the flat farm lands continued with not a breath of wind.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I mid <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state> there were at least 200 electrical generating windmills with not a single one moving!! East on I74 and cross over into <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Indiana</st1:state></st1:place> and more flat country. The expansion joints every 8M on the concrete roadways were a slight nuisance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I did not realise how much until late in the Sunday afternoon I went to use my loo and a cover plate for the gas stove which i stored beside the pedestal, had vibrated forward and held the flushing handle on!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So it had emptied my fresh water and filled my black water.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is no reversing this process. So at <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Terre Haute</st1:city></st1:place> I found a KOA Kampground and did<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a dump for my waste tanks and refilled my water supply again. Thank goodness for no hills as the temperature was over 35°.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Next morning it was<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>south on I41 through <st1:state st="on">Kentucky</st1:state> and into <st1:state st="on">Tennessee</st1:state> to<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Nashville</st1:city></st1:place> where I picked up I65 south.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I made <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Montgomery</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">Alabama</st1:state></st1:place> by 8pm and sought out the Wal-Mart.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Did not need rocking to sleep!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>450 miles on day one and 550 miles on day two!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Awake at 5.30am and started on Highway 231 SE straight away while it was still under 30°!! Had breakfast and a shower at <st1:city st="on">Troy</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">Alabama</st1:state> and by 8.45 was at Ozark where the <st1:placename st="on">Army</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Aviation</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> is located just 10 miles to the west of I231 at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Fort</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Rutter</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I certainly had time to go in here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very strict security provisions to get Rocinante on the Base.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But it was worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Magnificent collection of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">Out on I231 again and in no time I was in <st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:state> and at Marianna I got onto E10 which was taking me directly to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jacksonville</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I10 is a marvellous highway and no hills.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rocinante was flat out at 77mph<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on the flat!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had to try it out!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sat on 65 to 70 in the 35°+<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>day and a couple of very heavy thunderstorms to boot!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Arrived at Middleburg Wal-Mart at 6pm to make a trip distance from <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Oshkosh</st1:city></st1:place> of 1,354 miles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">Up early next morning to be at Rivers RV and Bus Workshop to be in time for my arranged appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Needless to say, the process of this job has drawn out and 4 days later; Saturday, I am sitting in their lovely Customer lounge; airconditioned and Wi-Fi and large screen TV, while Rocinante is in the complimentary campground about 100 M away with lots of parts and panels removed waiting for the expert to arrive with the parts on Monday morning!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">I have had the opportunity to replace the 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>fan belts on the hydraulic pump that have been squealing for the last 10 weeks. I fitted a 1” shorter pair of belts and now have ample adjustment and no screaming!! The camp site is under trees, so it was a good location to work on it. I have the use of the Company’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>courtesy car; a 2005 <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Lincoln</st1:city></st1:place>,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to do my parts buying, laundry and grocery shopping!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have found what has been slowly flattening the House battery.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The coaxial cable to the roof antenna has 12 feed to supply the powered antenna. The coax had deteriorated and was shorting out and drawing a constant 3 or 4 amps and I could not find it!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have bought a new antenna and now have 28 channels where before I had 3!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">Rocinante is booked to be shipped out of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jacksonville</st1:place></st1:city> in the 4<sup>th</sup> of September and I am able to leave her with the shipping Company this week.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I will then get a rental car and drive to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:city> from which I depart for home on the 17<sup>th</sup> August.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;color:black;">Magnificent and adventurous<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>holiday!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-17990173006381489112010-06-28T06:26:00.000-07:002010-07-04T07:57:35.989-07:00May 15th to 26th June 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TCijlU_SuSI/AAAAAAAAC2U/WiDqZgUteMY/s1600/St+John+River+Fishing+Camp.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/TCijlU_SuSI/AAAAAAAAC2U/WiDqZgUteMY/s320/St+John+River+Fishing+Camp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487816007635613986" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18.0pt;">15th May<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to 26th June 2010<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">This picture is of my camp site on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, right on the seawall and the overseas cargo ships passed just 150 metres in fron of Rocinante. But back to the story from the middle of May!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Jetty park at Port Canaveral<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>quite comfy,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It only has power<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>waste hookup,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>no<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>cable TV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>or<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>internet,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but a short drive down<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to MacDonald’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>allows a check of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>emails and to do shopping for food etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But it does have a wonderful beach and a closeup view of the large cruise ships as they exit and enter the harbour.,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The nice location also allows<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>me to chase a few little<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>problems in wiring and<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>plumbing in comfortable<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>circumstances!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Monday 17<sup>th</sup><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and off to Kennedy Space Centre again<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>as<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>weekday and fewer people. The queues last Thursday were<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>quite long.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was straight onto the buses this morning and rained!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But all the things<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to see were inside.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Included 3<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>3D<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>movies!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Great day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The initial<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>entry charge covers 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>days.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">It was an overnight at Wal-Mart at Port St John. Good location.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not too close to railway track!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day along the coastal highway to gamble <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rogers</st1:place></st1:city> State Park and camped on a nice location that is in fact on top of the coastal dune.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Great<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>beach<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>walks in the front yard!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We rolled in, we connected<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the water supply to Rocinante as well as the 110Volt power and went for a walk!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Came back to a lake underneath Rocinante.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The electrical water dump valve on the 120 gallon fresh<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>water tank had not<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>closed properly after a clearing purge before connecting the local water!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Had my togs on, so it was throw a mat underneath in the twilight and try to remove the offending valve and I managed to fabricate an alternative connection without the purge valve<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from scrap parts I had n<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">bought from the RV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>wreckers at <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Hot Springs</st1:city></st1:place>!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Managed to get it all “watertight” before it got totally dark!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A Gin and tonic has never tasted so good!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Spend 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>lovely days and nights here on the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Along the coastal highway A1A<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">St Augustine</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had been here before in winter and it was good to see it in the high season. Stopped at the classic and very well restored Lighthouse on the way up the peninsular<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>before heading across the estuary to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">St Augustine</st1:city></st1:place>. Used my old boondocking camp site at the Riberia Street Electric Company switchyard entrance which was within easy walking distance of everything.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Fort, The Lightner Museum and the old<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>part of town.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Americana</st1:city></st1:place> gallery; </span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.absoluteamericana.com/">http://www.absoluteamericana.com/</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Michael Roux the owner and creator of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>this marvellous<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>place was my host<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to take me around the exhibits and to tell of his amazing life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">After 2 nights in the switch yard spot it was on to the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St Augustine</st1:place></st1:city> Flea markets.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>secondhand professional stalls,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but a few small kitchen items for Rocinante.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Down I95<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Daytona beach</st1:city></st1:place> markets<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for an hour or so and then out to New Smyrna Speedway for the big night there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Overnighted in the carpark and the quarter midgets<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>with 160cc<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>4 stroke engines and under 16 year old drivers were hard at it in the 150<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>metre oval track. Lap times of 16 seconds!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Big days<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>easy travel to <st1:placename st="on">Sat</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Johns</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">River</st1:placename> at <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Jacksonville</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was on the barge for the river crossing and another driver was looking over the side of the Ferry for the 10 minute crossing and I asked whether there was any RV parks nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Without me following him right into it, I would never have found it,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>not on the net,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>it is a fishing camp and is right on the river, see the photo taken from the seawall at the start of this blog.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Spent 6<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>very relaxing and glorious days here<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>watching the big cargo ships passing just 150 metres in front of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rocinante!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Did some day trips in a borrowed set of wheels to Fernandino Beach<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>which is literally infected with secondhand and antique stores; yes,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did fall victim to a few small pieces, and on to St Marys<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on the Georgia<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>side of the Georgia<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Florida border.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We call it the state Line here!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">There is no cable TV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>hookup at this<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>site,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>so I pull up<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>stakes and head down to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Daytona Beach</st1:city></st1:place> to a good<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>campsite there at KOA Speedway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Walking distance to the enormous Daytona fleamarket and then on the Sunday afternoon spend the rest of the day in front of the TV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>with a beer in hand and watch the Indianapolis 500!! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">31<sup>st</sup> of May and it is a midday departure for Ocala where I have an appointment for an RV place to investigate the inverter switching system for 110 VAC<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on 6<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>power points.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Back to my Wal-Mart campspot!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Am invited to a pool party at a large gated community for a swim at the pool,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>great company and meet lots of great people, thanks!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is Memorial Day Public holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next morning it is on up to Bob’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>RV Salvage at High Springs,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>what I want to stock up on now!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I spend several 100’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on new and used parts<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to improve and repair any problems if they should arise!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even manage to get a set of main door lock locator pins!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Made contact with the Williams family up near <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Jacksonville</st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and may be able to find<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>underbody truckwash facility near there. Also looking for an RV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>or Bus repair facility to fit new aircon compressor and alter system<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to current <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>R134A<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>gas,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and then remove it prior to shipping!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Found both<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>places near <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Jacksonville</st1:city></st1:place> and with a clean underbody and a quote for air conditioner work to be done the first week of August.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Back<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to RV salvage to have yet another sift through the yard and come out with a big bag of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>stuff for $20!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then into High Springs and a marvellous<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>group Antique Mall!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Down Highway 441 towards <st1:city st="on">Ocala</st1:city> and big dirt <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Speedway</st1:place></st1:city>!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Overnight at RingPower; Catapillar Dealer,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>carpark.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Complete with WiFi.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Friday is <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Speedway</st1:place></st1:city> day and park in carpark area early!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lazy day and read.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Great night and the last race is a 75 lapper around the 3/8 mile track.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The smell of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>exhaust and burnt rubber still lingers!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Saturday and the Bull Riding Rodeo is in town.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Friends from<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Ocala</st1:city></st1:place> have included me in their party.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Overall,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the Bulls<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>won!! And it was back to my camp spot at Wal-Mart Silver Springs.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I had an appointment with Kenworth in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Jacksonville</st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to do an underbody steam and pressure clean,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>looks good and then on to Rivers RV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to quote on the Airconditioning rebuild.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Stayed at Wal-Mart<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Middleburg for 2 nights and went to movie Prince of Persia,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>very good. The Williams family showed me<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the sights<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thanks Chuck and Cat, while I waited for an 8.30 am Wednesday appointment with “RV electrical Specialist” at <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">De Land</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I arrive there on time,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but the spec<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was not there yet!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It took me 10 minutes to assess the “specialist”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>as I placed all the circuits<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for this section on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was patently clear that reading a schematic was not his thing!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I watched for half an hour and then he asked me to help!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>An extra pair of semi skilled hands was all I had needed in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I spent 3 hours there using their<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>nuts and bolts<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>tray and pvc tape<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and power<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>connected to Rocinante.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When finished,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>they only charged me half an hour labour!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I now have power to all my points and they as well as I know a bit more about Rocinante!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Pulled into Marina 44; naturally enough on Highway 44,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for lunch after my morning of ‘assisting” and when I went to start up,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>all I got was RR,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>RR, R<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>nothing!! Pull out the massive chassis battery tray and every connection was either warm<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>or very hot!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did not have a file, but a begging trip to the marina workshop<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>equipped me with 3<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>feet of emery tape!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The steam clean had obviously removed the gunk on the lugs and terminals that had been giving some sort of connection!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Found<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>yet another connection on the chassis battery lead join where the positive lead had been getting VERY hot,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>so back to the workshop and a small stainless bolt and washers and it is now like new.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know a little bit more about Rocinante now!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Overnight at the horse stud<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and go to a Movie, Letter to Juliet was only non violent!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next morning it was of north<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to <st1:state st="on">Ohio</st1:state><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on Highway 121 and joining 301 in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region></st1:place>. 301<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and 25<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>takes me all the way to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Greenville</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">South Carolina</st1:state></st1:place> and Wal-Mart is my overnight stop at about 9pm as it just gets dark.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am hearing a lot of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>fan and compressor belt slip, so I am concerned;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but this was overcome with my concern for the mountains!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Jones</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Pass</st1:placetype></st1:place> was the first one just 12 km<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>north of my overnight.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The alternator is overcharging as well!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The <st1:place st="on">Appalachian Mountains</st1:place> range from about 1500<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>feet to a top of 3772 feet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The interstate<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>25<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>goes up and down and up and down<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>etc<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for about 300 km!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rocinante and I arrive in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kingsport</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">Tennessee</st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>just after lunch and Stowers CAT Service Centre immediately put a real specialist on the job,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>tensions were<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>down,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But RingPower had<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>put oversized belts on and no more adjustment available.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But much better and access to the alternator showed a little cleaning and regulator tag terminal clean and it is perfect again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Plenty of more hills and <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Parkersburg</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">West Virginia</st1:state></st1:place> is my overnight.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Another good<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>day with 750 Km done.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:20.0pt;">Saturday the 12<sup>th</sup> June<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Parkersburg</span></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"> is on the southern bank of the Ohio River, and the highway 7<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>follows the river closely all the way through <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I get to Clarington about midday and a big Fair is in progress.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Great atmosphere in this small town.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Church has roast beef lunch on and the banjo player turns out to be the Pastor!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">After lunch it was on to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bridgeport</st1:place></st1:city> and my first Investment House location.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My friend was “guided”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>back in 2006 by a “shrewd” strategist; also<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>can be referred to as a spiv!!,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to buy<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>cheaply,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>renovate;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> and </span>the spiv was going to do this,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and then get reasonable rental returns. Problem was that the towns are all old Iron and coal towns and the industry no longer operates in this whole<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place> valley any more.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Coal<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for power generation is<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>very much mechanised and iron and steel is processed in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Korea</st1:country-region></st1:place>!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The little cottage in <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Howard Street</st1:address></st1:street> looked very forlorn,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but a couple of days of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>yard<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>work and internal cleaning and it<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>shamed the neighbours into doing their yards as well!! Door<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>locks fitted and basement siphoned out and some siding sheets replaced on the side wall.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Looked good. The home is 14<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>squares over the 2 floors. A good size for the street. It was then listed with the local Realtor and it was time for me to move on to the next at <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Johnstown</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:state></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>moved on from my campsite of the last 4 nights; I may add that <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Howard Street</st1:address></st1:street> has a 4 tonne load limit.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am 14 tonne!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And it is a no through road,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>so a U turn was necessary when I<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>returned from any shopping trip that necessitated going more than a mile on foot!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The way to Johnstown was due east from Bridgeport, straight across the Ohio River to Wheeling West Virginia;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>which has been made famous in a song of that name!!,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and straight into a long tunnel that emerged on the range out of the Ohio River valley.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Toatally different country.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was east on Interstate 70 without many bad hills<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>till my turn off north at <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Somerset</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I took state road 601<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for a scenic run,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>nice and narrow,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but lovely severely undulating farmland! Back to 219<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and then into <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Johnstown</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The astern side of town is at 2600 feet and as I descended into the valley and town centre,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>it was 1200 feet asl.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Wood Street</st1:address></st1:street> is a one way street and getting a 38 foot vehicle in took care,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but a parking spot was available on the street directly in front of 427 / 429.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">It had all the outward indications of abandonment! So A circuitous inspection revealed the 2<sup>nd</sup><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>duplex to be actually locked. The first was open and it was evident that some renovation had happened a fair while ago because all the rubbish had been thrown down the basement stairway!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I put my work overalls on and hauled for 2 hours, The stack of rubbish was enormous. About 20 garbage bags and 3 carpets were eventually folded and left on the side of the rear lane for garbage pickup next morning. Numerous cardboard cartons were added and then an inspection of the interior indicated the 2<sup>nd</sup> to be habitable and the first not so because people had been having stone throwing practice at the windows and had also stolen all the copper pipe visible and the gas hot water service!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The new straw broom got a serious workout and a coup[le of cartons of glass were added to the heap at the rear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>New locks were purchased and fitted and I collapsed!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Next morning and the Garbos<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>went straight past my heap.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I caught up with them a street down the hill; I had my wallet in my hand,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and a negotiated stop was arranged in 20 minutes!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>By the time they got back I had a bed base or 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>out for collection and to be crushed into the back of the truck!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>rented a whipper snipper and was ¾ done when the little 4<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>stroke motor stopped dead, broken crank I imagine,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>took it back;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>no fee,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and the wonderful neighbour across the road, Sandie,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>offered their little 2 stroke giant killer with which I finished the yard and it even looked good!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Took them out toi dinner as recompense!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day was down to City Hall and see how much back taxes were due,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>could only get the current year and that did not look good!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The tourist information was promoting the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Flood</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> as the prime tourist spot. Which in fact it was,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>with good reason, marvellous displays and artifacts oif the 1889, 1936<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and 1977 floods.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The last of which put paid to the last of the Steel Mills in town!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.jaha.org/FloodMuseum/facts.html">http://www.jaha.org/FloodMuseum/facts.html</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">This was a steel town and nothing else,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>without the mills,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>it was a town without purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The real estate market reflects that. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The single most outstanding feature of the town is the Inclined Plane!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.inclinedplane.com/">http://www.inclinedplane.com/</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">It does not have wings,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>it is a cable car that runs on rails straight up the side of a mountain !! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not only does it carry passengers and motor cycles, It can carry one car and saves several miles of road travel.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That evening was the first night of the annual Film Festival of the town.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I walked the 2 km.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>downtown to The Flood Museum again; they have the best small film theatre!,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and enjoyed 6 short feature films<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>that were vying for the medal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Home by 9:30pm in dwindling light,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the last few streets were travelled with a little fear!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The Real Estate people<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>agreed to list it and after I put a couple of For Sale by Owner<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>signs up, it was on the road again.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I had seen an advert on TV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for a Truck , Tractor and Big Rig<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pull<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>at the Fairgrounds at Brookville about 150 km<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to the north!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Arrived there about 4.30<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and the parking people put me in a nice level place, as I told them I wanted to stay the night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fun started<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>at 7pm.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Look at this link,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>easier than trying to explain!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.ntpapull.com/">http://www.ntpapull.com/</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"><a href="http://www.ntpapull.com/NTPA-Videos/">http://www.ntpapull.com/NTPA-Videos/</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The big rigs were spectacular,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Noise<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was unbelievable!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">It took the crowds over 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>hours to get out of the carpark,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>while I had a wee<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>dramn before bed!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day it was north to Edinboro to hook up with some folks<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>met at the Pull.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The opportunity to park on a small farm for a few days<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was a possibility and I was putting off going to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Youngstown</st1:city></st1:place> where I had heard some terrible stories about the crack and gang problems there!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">As it turned out I had 5<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>very comfortable<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>days at the farm and did a multitude of small maintenance jobs<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for the Ellis’s and attended to my compressed air leaking problem that had happened near Brookville.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was kindly chauffeured to the local car parts places where I was able to find a replacement pressure switch to fix the air leak.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Critical in a vehicle that relies on air for gear change,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>brakes and throttle!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">On Friday 25<sup>th</sup> June, it was onto<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>state road 98 south and I ran into a heap of garage sales!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Needless to say ,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but I was late in the day arriving at 407 E Dewey in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Youngstown</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A nice looking duplex on a nice street. Made<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>myself known to all the neighbours and it was in no time at all that help and advice was offered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My $20 whipper snipper from<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a garage sale earlier in the day was a<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>great success when I attacked the yard next morning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Investigating the sewer leak as reported by the managing agent several months ago<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>revealed a much less serious situation. Looking better all the time. Rocinante is parked on a level spot in the driveway,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>comfortable for a few days<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>of work here.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-49267657854819029702010-05-15T15:27:00.000-07:002010-05-18T10:29:02.327-07:00Space Coast and Beyond<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S-8hGEUyajI/AAAAAAAAC1o/ZU88k2Xn5Jg/s1600/DSC00609.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S-8hGEUyajI/AAAAAAAAC1o/ZU88k2Xn5Jg/s320/DSC00609.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471628460402305586" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S-8gQxyRlfI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/LySadnmvPow/s1600/DSC00758.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S-8gQxyRlfI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/LySadnmvPow/s320/DSC00758.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471627544892642802" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Ocala and </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">On<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">wards.</span></i></b></span></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18.0pt;">Saturday the 1st<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>May 2010<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:19px;">Rocinante,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Beepa and I head down to Lady lake<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to pick up some mail and to touch base with the Ovens<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>at Harbour Hills.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Numerous<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>yard sales on the way and a little bit of spontaneous<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>retail therapy!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bill had some mail for me;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>my Florida Licence<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and my Progressive Vehicle Insurance Policy!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very important<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>documents!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Raided Bill’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>scrap wood<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>box in his Joinery Workshop!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very handy for the odd mounting and repairs jobs in Rocinante.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">On<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>441 then onto 42 and east through <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Sanford</st1:place></st1:city> towards Osteen on 415.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Fox Head<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bar here is famous<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for its music and cold beer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Found it also had a large parking lot<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and Rocinante was parked there with about 150<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Harleys!! It also has<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>WiFi,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a bonus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Kentucky Derby runs<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>at 6pm on a very wet<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>track.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A spontaneous winner takes all<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>sweep is held<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>with no horse names,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>just the numbers 1<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>through 20.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had 3 horses for my $15<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and did not even rate a place!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But the winner did shout all the losing sweep holder a drink of their choice<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>before he left with his<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>booty!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A great bunch of people. Bill is the Owner and fusses over everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tattoos<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>pony tails<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>proliferate!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The 2 pool tables are never unused and the live band is very good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They are inside tonight,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but tomorrow they will be on the stage in the car park!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Find<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a quiet spot to park and next day I am back at the Fox Head for the afternoon entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Parked under a tree at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Baptist</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the services are done for today!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Nascar Ute Racing is on TV in the Bar<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is popular and someone puts a couple of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>kilos<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>of cooked Crawdads on the bar!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Smallish yabbies..<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very tasty bar snacks,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>thanks Bill.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Monday dawned promising to be warm;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>sure was 39 deg at midday.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Had some help and Paddy took me to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Sanford</st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to do some electronics shopping.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">HHGreigs are the Big Guys<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>of <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A 19”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and a 22” HD LCD<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>TV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>are on the list as well as a DVD player. A couple of wall mounts as well!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not a lot<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>of bargaining here,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but I did get 7%<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>off!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Back to Rocinante<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and the air-conditioning!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">A little bit of exploring the district a a spot to work in the shade was found and the old<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the old 15” TVs were removed<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from their recesses.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Adapters were made from Bill’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>wood scraps and the <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>new TVs were mounted.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The recesses behind are now potential storage areas!! BUT,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the signal from my very good!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Antenna on the roof is negligible!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A exploration of the roof,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>shows that the coax<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is very much degraded;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>so much so,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>that the shielding has disintegrated<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and no 12 volt power can get to the amplifier inside the flying saucer shape antenna.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I removed it and dismantled it to find that my activity was<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>indeed the best move!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A lot of delicate cleaning with a toothbrush and 20+<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>years of corrosion was removed and with a<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>lot of doubt re its serviceability,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was reassembled,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a temporary repair to the coax<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and the TVs both worked well,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>not A1<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but working.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A shopping list for antenna cable,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>sealant for the roof and antenna<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>connectors for the hardware shop later on!!<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Wednesday is another warm one and a drive up north to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">De Land</st1:city></st1:place> and to find the Southern RV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Service Centre.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rick is the suspension specialist and Tom;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the owner,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is the Electrical Specialist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I will be back here next month to have some irregularities in the mains<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>power switching<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>attended to.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The radio in Rocinante is genuine 1986 vintage with cassette player.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So it was into Wal-Mart and bought a DUAL<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>unit that has<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>CD, MP3 and Bluetooth for my cell phone for $106!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But it needs a larger hole in the instrument panel.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To ACE<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hardware and a coping saw is added to the ever increasing tool kit of Rocinante. One hour of delicate cutting of the 2 layers of acrylic sheet that make up the panel<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and the new entertainment centre fits in; except when the hinged top panel is lowered and there is interference!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A little bit of “adjustment” by the wood saw and all fits well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The sound is<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>very good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I bought 12 MP3 CDs<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from home for my entertainment for the next 3 months!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The New Smyrna Speedway is about 20 kays<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>down the road and a big night is advertised for Saturday night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Daytona Beach</st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and the many kilometres of beach were normal car access is<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>available for $5<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for the day. 15 mph<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>speed limit applies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>1000’s of people here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very poor surf,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but still a good swim.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Back towards the Daytona Speedway and a check-in to the KOA<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>RV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Campground.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Connection to power is good,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but my first opportunity to do some housekeeping!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Empty my Black water and Grey water!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Also to top up my 400 litre water tank.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A very comfortable<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>night with aircon without the Kubota<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>rumbling away<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>providing my 110 AC power!~~<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Back to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Ocala</st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for an evening out on the town at Katie Belle's at The Villages. Great music from a 60’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>rock band and Karaoke afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Also great hosts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Back to my home in the Wal-Mart in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Ocala</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Saturday it was down to do a mail pickup at Harbour Hills and then across to New Smyrna Speedway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A lot of yard sales on the way!!!~<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Speedway</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"> owners<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>gave me the OK to park overnight in the car park.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The nights<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>racing was Mothers Day eve and Mums<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>were free entry and received a carnation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not a large turn up of cars,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but about 40 race cars gave some very good racing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is a half mile oval with 22 deg end banking and fully sealed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Speeds of 240km in the straights were<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>being done!!~<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next morning<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was a relaxed start; again!!,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and I heaed for <st1:city st="on">Kissimmee</st1:city>,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>south of <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Orlando</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Mill RV Resort is near the Disney stuff<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and I have booked in here<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for a couple of nights.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Midweek and I am now located<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>on the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Space</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Coast</st1:placetype></st1:place> and looking for a campsite<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to view the Shuttle Launch on Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Went to most northern park to view the launch.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Jetty</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> at Port Canaveral is just 12 Km south of the Launch pad.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Managed to get 5 nights here,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>water and power and dump site,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>so need nothing else.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Headed off to the Kennedy Space centre for a return visit and to get the atmosphere for the launch the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>20,000<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>others had the same idea and a 1 and a half hour queue for the Bus<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to the NASA<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>launch sight tour was a fact.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I took the more expensive tour last time and bypassed the queue.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I had forgotten that small fact!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The big day; 14<sup>th</sup>, arrived and perfect weather was in order. The local TV station had an outside broadcast unit about 100 M.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from where Rocinante was parked. About 10,000 spectators started lining the shoreline just outside the RV Park from first light.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The traffic<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>jam from <st1:city st="on">Orlando</st1:city> to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Titusville</st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>area<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>at a standstill for 3<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>hours for 80 km!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was estimated 200,000 people flocked into the area<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for the 20 seconds of viewing!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My plan was to get the photo at the start of this blog!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Plan came together!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-1258829590225003262010-05-02T11:57:00.000-07:002010-05-02T14:42:58.070-07:0027th April till 1st May<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S93LTFVYDsI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/mv3GC4Acgzg/s1600/Dsc00608++Rocinante.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S93LTFVYDsI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/mv3GC4Acgzg/s320/Dsc00608++Rocinante.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466749051407437506" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18.0pt;">Tuesday the 27th April</span></i></b><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">First thing I have to attend to is the intermittent starting problem of my 7.5Kw<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>3 cylinder diesel Kubota / Onan generator.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is located in the below<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>floor area between the 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>front seats.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In front of the front axle.,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>really quite accessible,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>believe it or not!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Found ; eventually,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>that there is an Onan Service centre in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Ocala</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Cummins/Onan<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Power South is a big organisation that has so many motorhomes come for service of their Cummins<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>main engine and Onan Auxiliaries,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>they have a 10 site campground with 50 amp power connection and water hookups.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rich,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the service manager gave mean 8am appointment for Wednesday and told<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>me to make myself comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are 2 very good aircons in Rocinante,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and a good book and coffee,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I surely did that!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Promptly next morning; my serviceman Jason appeared at my RV. Would you believe the bloody thing started first hit!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But A full service was called for as I found that the engine was severely overfilled with oil!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>New Air, fuel and oil filters were sourced within the hour, (remember, it is a 23 year old unit!!)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and work began.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was surmised that the oil was foaming through overfill and the low<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>oil pressure cut out was causing the “no start”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All finished and the button<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was hit, NOTHING!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No noise.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Still a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In about 15 minutes he isolated it to an intermittent connection on terminal 3<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>of the printed circuit board on the generator.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I said<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I would take over from there,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>as I did not want to buy a complete board.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Folks<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from the RV<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>next to me,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>took me to Wal-Mart to buy a soldering iron,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and after about 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>hours it was all good and as new!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Back on the road again and it was back to my supermarket<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>overnight and plan my trip to<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>High Springs;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>about 70 miles to the north,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>where a large RV wrecking and salvage yard is supposed to be!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next morning it was to the Laundromat and then to the Appleton Museum of Art<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to see the Southern Journeys<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Exhibition. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Was going through <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ocala</st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>streets and noticed a Sign shop;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Andy’s Signs ,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So inside and we designed a new Rocinante sign for the front of the RV.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very similar to The script used for the name on Steinbeck’s old camper. The photo above shows it well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then on the road to High Springs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The land around this area is horse<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>country and some beautiful properties line each side of the roads. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">After<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a few stops at interesting sights,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I found the Salvage yard abot 4 miles north of town, it was late in the day and was closed,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>so I turned on computer to do some writing and free wifi<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>jumped out at me!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No need to find an overnight spot now!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I just pulled across to the other side of the small highway up against the State Park fence and called it home for the night,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>with wifi!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">At 8am next morning,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>life appeared at the salvage yard.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What a revelation behind the high tin fence!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>About 5 acres of stripped old<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>RVs<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and caravans.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So much firewood!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>About 10%<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>had had fires,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a grim note about smoking in bed and candles!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Esentially,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>all the carcases<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>were exactly that,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but I was able to buy some small switches; new,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>plumbing pipes and bends etc, and an LPG detector, new!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I did some groundwork on buying a bulk quantity of captains and passenger fully adjustable seats as well as hot water heaters. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I may make up a container lot to bring home.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Why did I need the plumbing fittings<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>you may ask?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Well…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the carpet has been a little wet since I started and I bought a couple of noticed that the pressure pump came on more often than was necessary!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A leak in an RV is a real<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>problem.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When they are being built,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The first thing to go on the floor pan is the piping!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And it is all covered up as the unit is built. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Fate shined on me and I was able to find the split 90 deg angle fitting by listening, feeling for water and a long arm. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How was it to be fixed,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had prayed for some divine intervention. Tried 2 mix plasticine stuff,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but only 90%<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>effective,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>still leaking.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So it was cut the offending corner out and use compression fittings either side of the break. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let me say it is a job best in the past!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dry floor now!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day was back to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ocala</st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and bought a couple of car speakers to replace dud ones in ceiling over dining area,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>HiFi<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>in the kitchen now!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Computer Wizz man in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Gainesville</st1:place></st1:city> also loaded the drivers for my long distance WiFi<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>antenna and now<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>internet connection is a whole lot easier. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Can steal WiFi<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>from 500 metres!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Quiet<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>night in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ocala</st1:place></st1:city>!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And next morning back to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Lady</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>where my Florida Drivers licence had arrived in the mail at bill and Jills. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then on to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Seminole</st1:placename><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to just cruise around for a day or two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-12715472016577418632010-05-01T14:14:00.001-07:002010-05-01T14:14:46.837-07:0018th April till the 28th April<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Blog from Sunday the 18th April.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Saturday was a run from <st1:city st="on">Plant City</st1:city> where I had overnighted after attending the night airshow at Sun N Fun at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Lakeland</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place>. It was a veritable display of precision fly by various flyers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Manfred from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Austria</st1:place></st1:country-region> did his magnificent gliding display with even moire pyrotechnics than the last time I saw him!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At late dusk, the 4 T6’s<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>illumination as well as continual sparkler like<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>trails.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The smoke was illuminated by spotlights aimed backwards on each aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Must have been hell for the guy flying 6 o’clock!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Back to a very 60ish motel<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>for the night and next day it was an early start to go to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Crystal</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">River</st1:placename></st1:place> to inspect my potential RV purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>About 6<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>yard sales interrupted the process and it was 1pm before I arrived at the <st1:city st="on">Jackson</st1:city>’s small acreage<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>about 12 Kim north of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Crystal</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">River</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The pristine condition of the RV indeed got my attention and a detailed inspection underneath courtesy of Joe’s garage creeper, confirmed good maintenance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All grease points well and truly attended to and new brake linings all round! The Allison Auto trans<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>oil was like new and a recent filter change as was the oil in the big 300HP<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>turbo caterpillar V8<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>which<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was at the rear of the Gillig chassis.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This chassis is utilised as the base of City buses all over <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>; the serial of this one is 40,000 something.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very successful rig.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I test drove it and the ride was soooo smooth compared to my last one!~<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then a deposit down after a successful negotiation and plan to return with the folding stuff the following Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Back to a motel at Port Richey<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and a meal at a Pirates Den and to bed after a very exciting day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Next morning it was up early and back to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Lakeland</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place> for the last day of Sun N Fun.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But it was immensely heavy rain as I came down 19 and across Highway 60<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to get back on 92<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Lakeland</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It certainly affected the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Very few people, so it was a good day; if a bit wet underfoot, at the airshow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The US Airforce did an impressive show in the Hornets with a 3000 foot ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Then with a big bag of pamphlets,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>it was back to the east coast organise the folding stuff at the local bank of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>very funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I will not bore anyone with the problems.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But 8 separate transactions later it was nearly accumulated.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Tuesday, it was north to Lady lake via <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kissimmee</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Arrived at the Ovens is afternoon and it was very good to be back to such lovely people.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They had just returned from a holiday in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region></st1:place> a few days before and had a bit of air travel wog and that matched my lingering jet lag.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A fair bit of anxiety as well had contributed!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Wednesday was a boat trip over the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Harris</st1:placename></st1:place> lake system wit5h bill and Jill and 3 other couples from the harbour Hills community.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is called the harbour Hills mariners and they do monthly outings.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>About 10<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>boats in the flotilla for the 30 mile trip to Mission Hills Resort to the east.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A lovely buffet<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>lunch and an educated 45 minute talk by a very senior researcher from <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place> water on the background to the aquifer and the lake system in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She also outlined the measures being taken to keep it and improve it after industry in the early part of the 20<sup>th</sup> century damaged it!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">It was while I was there that the RV vendor called and said he had to go away urgently for 5 days,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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 <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:state> 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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The whole of their dining table was covered in 100’s and 50’s as it was tallied up!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The important unencumbered title was appropriately signed and it was of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to the local Wal-Mart to get fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Switches EVERYWHERE and very small labels.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So lots of help from my torch and the initial drive home was in the dark!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bill followed to cover the fact that only one taillight worked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The high clearance lights did work!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The speedo light did not work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It absolutely flys.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It can go to 70mph<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>sooo easily!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thanks folks!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Next day it was down to start on the many small jobs,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>lights first.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>2 combination turn / tail<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>had been miswired since 1986!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No wonder the lamps<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>continually expired prematurely!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Then down to the County office to get the Tags.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rego plate with a small sticker on it showing expiry date.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thank goodness I had my Florida Licence,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>soo easy;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>except for the payment of 7% sales tax,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I paid it in $20 bills<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>straight from the ATM’s daily spew!! 2 people had to count it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They don’t deal in cash tax payments often they said,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but they were very efficient and caring, thanks <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Marion</st1:city></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Back to Harbour hills and fit the “Tag”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To find that starting the engine is a little difficult;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>sorry impossible./<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So 2 new GFIANT 12 volt batteries had to be found on Saturday. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">NAPA</st1:city></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>auto spares carried them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>50cm long, 24 cm wide and 28cm high, they weigh 45kg each!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But only cost $178US<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>each.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>IT REALLY spins the Cat now!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Best<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>move I have made to date.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No more problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Then in Rental car to <st1:city st="on">Orlando</st1:city> where the all important GPS was bought on special at Wal-Mart<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kissimmee</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The top of line Garmin for AU$200.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Sunday 25<sup>th</sup>,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>ANZAC Day,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a little overcast and clear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Up highway 27 towards <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ocala</st1:place></st1:city> and try to get some Propane at the U Haul there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Found it and now I can have a cup of tea without having to start the microwave.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A large Wal-mart beckoned and it allowed more shopping and a quiet night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My fridge would not work on propane!!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So I went to see the experts.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">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~!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The big Gas / 12 V and 110 volt refrigerator and freezer now works perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cold<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>beer and milk.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU">Went north to Waldo where a large Flea Market operates;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but only on Friday thru Sunday!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is a marvellous “collective” of antique outlets in a very big multilevel old factory.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So that occupied the balance of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was also on the search for a small scooter and a carry <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to fit in the 2 inch<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>tow fitting on the back of the RV.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I found both,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but I will look further. Scooters can be had from $699 new.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>110cc<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>four-stroke and look real good,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>even have red ones!~</span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-ansi-language: EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-10252541527818227952010-04-17T23:57:00.000-07:002010-04-18T00:37:06.847-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qx4-5-QFI/AAAAAAAAC0s/x23CQ_TOToQ/s1600/DSC00439.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qx4-5-QFI/AAAAAAAAC0s/x23CQ_TOToQ/s320/DSC00439.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461373090657091666" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Here we go on yet another adventure. I have been looking at many motorhomes that may be eligible to bring back to Australia for about 6 months.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Today was day 4 of the looking in Florida and I had made contact with this seller by phone a couple of days ago.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>So it was across Florida to Crystal River on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to check it out.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qxtnG_MRI/AAAAAAAAC0k/XkSWfJ6lUBs/s1600/DSC00437.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qxtnG_MRI/AAAAAAAAC0k/XkSWfJ6lUBs/s320/DSC00437.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461372895290667282" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qxdceYHlI/AAAAAAAAC0c/5i8egrJbXlM/s1600/DSC00435.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qxdceYHlI/AAAAAAAAC0c/5i8egrJbXlM/s320/DSC00435.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461372617558072914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qxYeLLKkI/AAAAAAAAC0U/qH3cfqFQa98/s1600/DSC00431.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qxYeLLKkI/AAAAAAAAC0U/qH3cfqFQa98/s320/DSC00431.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461372532115057218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qwiS7JBXI/AAAAAAAAC0E/jjQSojsNJXI/s1600/DSC00429.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qwiS7JBXI/AAAAAAAAC0E/jjQSojsNJXI/s320/DSC00429.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461371601382081906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qwYhCNSwI/AAAAAAAACz8/1rk-AT6ldjc/s1600/DSC00428.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qwYhCNSwI/AAAAAAAACz8/1rk-AT6ldjc/s320/DSC00428.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461371433371126530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qwN-IdhYI/AAAAAAAACz0/-Ik_qZqY6oE/s1600/DSC00426.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qwN-IdhYI/AAAAAAAACz0/-Ik_qZqY6oE/s320/DSC00426.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461371252203423106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qv9UXxOlI/AAAAAAAACzs/U0jpwp8GLXI/s1600/DSC00425.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qv9UXxOlI/AAAAAAAACzs/U0jpwp8GLXI/s320/DSC00425.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461370966115433042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qv4IPWiuI/AAAAAAAACzk/7XZeecjXye0/s1600/DSC00424+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qv4IPWiuI/AAAAAAAACzk/7XZeecjXye0/s320/DSC00424+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461370876959558370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qvxWfb-3I/AAAAAAAACzc/6R4M3Jz5qfw/s1600/DSC00422.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qvxWfb-3I/AAAAAAAACzc/6R4M3Jz5qfw/s320/DSC00422.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461370760526035826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qvpPYVU2I/AAAAAAAACzU/Pdr6dDeO3OU/s1600/DSC00418.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qU-kAwe9KRI/S8qvpPYVU2I/AAAAAAAACzU/Pdr6dDeO3OU/s320/DSC00418.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461370621178237794" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>As you can see from the above pix, it is a quite reasonable rig. It does weigh over 14 tonnes and is 38 feet long; but it is the correct width and vintage to bring back to Australia.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>For the rev heads amongst us, it has a caterpillar 3208 turbocharged engine mounted at the rear and puts out 300HP. It has no springs, just smoothride airbag suspension and air for everything, brakes, shifting for the 4 speed Allison transmission, accelerator and dunny!!</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>And now it is mine!!! Take delivery on Wednesday or Thursday, have to organise Insurance and then Registration. It will be straightforward as I was successful in getting my Florida Drivers Licence on friday. It did involve passing both the theory and practical tests though!!!</b></span></div><div><br /></div>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-24380536948324997222010-04-15T06:11:00.000-07:002010-04-15T19:54:26.277-07:00To the USA<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The trip to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:city> was a easy one. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mary dropped me off at <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Brisbane</st1:place></st1:city> international after taking over an hour to get there in drizzly and traffic jam conditions. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I had plenty of time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My 2 big heavy bags were not a problem and breakfast in the QANTAS Club lounge was a leisurely start to my trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">The 747<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was as full as a <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place> and my sesat was close to the rear and comfortable. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Good<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>people beside me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A couiple from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pensacola</st1:place></st1:city> returning after a 2 week holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Arrived at LA<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>early in the morning and rechecked my luggage in for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:city> and spent a relaxed 4 hours inb the American Airlines Admirals<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lounge.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Time passed quickly and comfortably!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">A 4 hour flight to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:city> and my bags were the first on the carousel!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In 3 minutes I was in the Alamo Rental car shuttle Bus and headed north for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Orlando</st1:place></st1:city>. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It took me a quarter of an hour to find I95 north!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But once on it,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>no problems and I was at my arranged overnight before midnight.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Next day was an early start<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>due to my<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>waking early and a search on the internet found the local Dept. Motor Vehicles office and after a 3 hour bureaucratic <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and very productive Person in there;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>thank you<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cherie,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>completed my Drivers licence Theory and<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>had<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>booked my practical test for Friday!! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Non citizens without residency status have great difficulty obtaining a Drivers licence which is the “ultimate”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>ID<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>here.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">I then visited 2<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>big Motorhome lots;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>where I did not expect to find rigs of the vintage that I need,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but made some what may be productive contacts.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;">Sorted out the 110 volt conversion to my aussie <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>multi outlet board to keep<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>cell phone and laptop charged and CPAP<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>connected!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480200354175060285.post-82738200505158218552010-03-11T14:41:00.000-08:002010-03-11T14:43:28.445-08:00To Sydney to have interview for US Visa.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Good morning, Ironing shirts for road trip to Sydney for Visa interview at US Consulate on Monday 15th. No US embassy presence in Brisbane, only Sydney, Melbourne and Perth</span></span>Noelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15296380859164517633noreply@blogger.com0