Happy Valentine's Day

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day. I didn't go to Kroger, but we did make it to Texas Roadhouse.

Just a quick update as February is almost half over.  We're still at Gulf State Park. We went to McCalla last week to visit Anna. Our summer plans are in question as all job offers for NPS were rescinded, and NPS was told not to talk to potential volunteers (like us). Just when you think the supper-cold weather on the gulf coast might be over, we told to expect at least two below freezing mornings next week. Pine pollen is in full bloom. And through all this, we still plan to leave on March 1st and follow the pollen!

Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us. We'll update more as we start to move around. David

Gulf Coast "Snowmageddon" Begins

OK. It's a "once-in-a-lifetime" event. 3-5 inches of snow expected. Local news is aghast & excited over the beach snow event. I-165 already a skating rink. At least one direction of I-10 is closed near the Loxley (US-59) exit. Probably get some blizzard conditions for a few minutes in a few locations. Roads are treated, but the south's usual snow removal equipment is spring. Probably be gone by next week.

It is pretty. We're fine with it. TV pictures of the Gulf Shores beach is just beautiful. We were here for the 2014 ice storm, so we had some experience with the supper cold weather that can happen down here. I believe we'll be a tad colder this time.

Otherwise, it's been a little atypical of a winter for us. We started moving most doc appointments down here as we're here longer than we're in Fredericksburg. Consequently, it seems like all we do is doc appointments - especially when you set up one appointment and the visit results in one or two more appointments. We started going to enough crowded parking lots that we splurged for a rental car to make parking a little easier. 

Donna now walks more than she rides her bike now. Most people now on e-bikes, anyway.

We've taken care of some routine truck maintenance while we have the rental car.  Our trailer's furnace (14+ years old) was having an issue as we left Elkhart, IN in November last year. We've gotten it looked at and a new electric motor and gas valve was installed. One additional flexible propane hose was also replaced at that time. So far, so good with those items during this cold spell.

Due to snowmageddon, we've had to cancel one medical procedure that can't be reschedule before we leave. Donna's working that now to see if it can be done in Virginia while we're there or completed in Wyoming over the summer. This is what keeps retirees busy!

Well, that gets you caught up to date us while we sit here staying warm.  Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us! David

Merry Christmas - Happy New Year!

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's a rainy, warm humid day here at Gulf State Park.  We're fine.  The campground's been unusually empty (or at least unusually empty to us) until yesterday afternoon.  Not sure if people are just not out as much as in the past or they're just coming later.

We're fine, though it seems every time we go to a doc appointment we get another doc appointment or two. I've gotten new glasses.  Donna got her eyes "zapped" to remove some tissue that clears up her vision after having cataracts removed a couple of years ago. Her new reading glasses are on order.

Donna's been told by our doc to walk more.  Consequently, we're walking more than bicycle riding.  Seems the new ebikes are all the rage and almost everyone but us has them.  She's unable to keep up with those things when the group rides. Her bike rides are now shorter and she doesn't go out with the group as much. 

Her bike riding group had a couple of people pass away over the summer. Several of the couples that are usually here aren't down here for this winter due to health issues.  A few couples have changed parks, too, so we don't see them as often. Otherwise, it's a typical winter for us down here. We need to get out and visit more ourselves.

That gets everyone up to date. Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us! I'll write more next year, David

Back at Gulf State Park/December Update

We made it - we had our doubts at times!  We had a great visit at High Point, NC.  After spending a week there we traveled to Stone Mountain, Ga to visit Donna's brother.  We were able to locate a mobile RV tech to help rewire the hot water heater and assist us to installing new batteries on the trailer.  So we were feeling better and - as always - we really enjoy our time at the Stone Mountain State Park Campground.

We had a great visit with Donna's brother and niece before they were invaded with friends for Thanksgiving.  While they were being invaded, we traveled over to Birmingham, AL to visit Anna and the rest of the family.  Thanksgiving dinner with the family was on Friday. Donna and I had a great time seeing everyone and really enjoyed the meal.

Today we traveled down to Gulf State Park for the winter. We're now back in our favorite loop on Live Oak.We've made our traditional visit to Mikee's for dinner. For the trip down, traffic was busy headed south. Northbound I-65, however, was a nightmare in several spots due to accidents on that side of the interstate. 

So that gets everyone up to date. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us! David

Made it to High Point

We made it to High Point, NC after a new (or new to us) transfer switch.  We left last Wednesday & took 3 days to get here. We're traveling with weak (not bad - just weak) batteries that we have to be careful with.  We broke a hot wire to the electric heating element and, somehow, the converter went out at the same time. Since the hot water heater and converter share a common circuit breaker (even though they have separate levers), that stopped what little battery charging we were getting and all 12 volt appliances were now running off those weak batteries. Resetting the circuit breakers didn't help. We carry a separate battery charger that we can use to recharge the batteries when things like this occur. We ran the slides and stuff with that on so as to be easy on the batteries. After arriving here in High Point, the transfer switch made a nice "Kathunk" as power was applied.  I told Donna that the converter might be working again after a "hard" reset.  Sure enough, the converter is working, again.  

So here we sit. We've had a great visit so far. We have various appointments each day while here.  We had planned to leave on Thursday as that was the first dry day since Saturday.  Now the weather people say Thursday is the first day of rain after a dry Tuesday & Wednesday. We'll see what really happens.  

From here we travel to Stone Mountain, Georgia for a week or so, Birmingham for Thanksgiving, and on down to Gulf Shores on December 1st.  We'll see if the trailer makes it...

Thanks for dropping by and checking in on us.  Until next time, David
 

Plans? What Plans?

Remember all those plans we wrote about in the last post?  Well, forget about them.

We picked up the trailer as planned on Oct 18th, spent the weekend in Elkhart, and left Monday for Indianapolis, IN.  Arrived there fine.  Then the trailer decided to have a mental breakdown.  Hydraulics wouldn't hold level (front legs drift down). No visible leaks to fix. No visible sign of hydraulic fluid anywhere. Hydraulic fluid reservoir at proper levels.  Did all our tricks of special sequence of front leg movements with no success. Finally got it to hold at 2 degrees front high. So that's the way we spent the night.

No success in finding anyone to look at it Tuesday around Indianapolis.  A phone call to Kay Cross (Indiana Interstate Enterprises/Cross RV) got us a few contacts we could try.  A gentleman near Shipshewana, IN would look at it and could repair hydraulics, so back to the Elkhart area we returned.

We got back to Elkhart, IN Tuesday afternoon.  Wednesday morning we wake up to electrical wire burning.  A quick call to the gentleman in Shipshewana said he'd look at that, too.  So he came out late Wednesday afternoon.  Turns out we're cooking our transfer switch and the hydraulic problems appears to be some seeping of fluid along two hydraulic lines.  Parts should be here tomorrow.  

Hopefully, we can get back on the road Sunday.  If not, we're fine here in Elkhart.

So that's what's happening with us. Thanks for checking up on us.  We'll post when we're comfortably back on the road.  David

Allen Farm Intruder Alert System

Decades ago, there was a comic strip (Calvin & Hobbs) about a mischievous 5 year old (Calvin) and his stuffed tiger (Hobbs). One Sunday cartoon edition started as follows: 

The setting: Calvin and Hobbs are walking in the woods.

Calvin: Hobbs, I've been thinking.

Hobbs:  On a weekend?!

Calvin: Well, it wasn't intentional...

So starts the story of the Allen Farm Intruder Alert System (AFIAS).

Background:  Beth & Frank live on Frank's family's farm near Fredericksburg, VA.  Full of history, the farm -  The Allen Farm - I'll call it (not the family's affectionate name for it) is somewhat of a paradise amongst the growing Fredericksburg area. Today, cattle & crops are no longer raised on it.  The grandmother's house is replaced. While the original family (Frank's and his siblings parents') house remains, siblings and other relatives now live on the farm where cattle & crops once stood.  One nephew and his family has three rescue dogs.  The dogs love to bark.  And when I was left unsupervised, I would walk the farm road and these dogs would go off like clockwork.  I'm convinced that one of them eventually knew when I opened an exterior door of Frank & Beth's house to do a morning stroll despite being out of line of sight and blocked by a house.  One morning, like Calvin of Calvin & Hobbs fame, I made a mistake and started thinking...

Welcome to the introduction of the Allen Farm Intruder Alert System, henceforth known as AFIAS.

This alert system obtains our highest 5-star rating.  AFIAS has surpassed our highest expectations for any intruder alert system. Based around a trio of sensors, the system passed every one of our extensive suites of intruder test scenarios. AFIAS did not fail to alert in any scenario. Basically, we found this intruder alert system to be infallible.

Sensor rating:

Sensor 1:  This sensor gets our highest, 5-star rating.  Equipped with the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) package and the latest knowledge & learning processes, this sensor never failed.  This sensor, being AI based, never needs upgrading. This sensor contains & demonstrated sensor engagement despite lacking line-of-sight information.  This sensor can be used as a stand-alone sensor.

Sensor 2: 4.5-star rating. While not AI capable, this sensor contains the latest knowledge & learning processes. This sensor is upgradeable. This sensor ensures any alert from sensor 1 is heard through any covered complex.  This sensor can be used as and is suitable as a stand-alone sensor.

Sensor 3: 2.5-star rating. Using off-the-shelf knowledge & learning processes, this sensor works well as a companion to Sensor 1 or 2 and is extremely useful in ensuring any alert by sensor 1 or 2 is heard anywhere in any covered complex including any remote corners not covered by sensor 1 or 2. This sensor is not upgradeable (hard to teach an old dog new tricks) and must be paired with sensor 1 or 2 to work effectively.

AFIAS is awarded our highest rating and is highly recommended where any intruder alert system is necessary.

Oct 16, 2024 Update:

Our time in paradise at the Allen Farm is over. We're on our way to Lagrange, IN to pick up our trailer. We really enjoyed our time extensively testing the AFIAS and overnighting at the Frank & Beth Bed and Whatever-you-want-to-eat-you-can-fix-yourself. We love you guys more than you know! Below are pictures Beth sent us of the farm for you to see their little bit of paradise near the Washington, DC bedroom community of Fredericksburg, VA.  

We're sorry we didn't get to see everyone and hope to visit with those we missed on the way back up next spring.  Once we have the trailer and are restocked, we'll head down to Springfield, OH, then over to Huntington, WV, and finally down to High Point, NC.  Further stops are planned (OK, reservations) for Stone Mountain, GA, Birmingham, AL and down to Gulf Shores, AL for the winter.  At least that's the plan.  Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us. David