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Our latest RV blog/ journal 

We are here Today - 3528

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Oct. 29th - We were away early again.  The time changed last night so we were early and then earlier still going into Kentucky on central time.  We were at our next stop of Diamond Cave a Coast to Coast Deluxe park by 9:00 a.m.  The lady at the registry office is used to early arrivals.  She was not upset with us checking in at that time.  We pulled into a nice pull through site again and were set up on a nice cement pad in no time.  

It was such a beautiful day that we decided to install our new power step.  The cement pad was another incentive.  No rocks or thorns to poke Doug in the back.  It took about two hours for us to get the remains of the old step off and the new one installed.  This is getting easier every time we do it.  I took the motor off of the old step as it was just like new and you never know when we will have need of a new motor for the step.

The rest of the day was a relax day.  Tomorrow will be Alabama.

Oct. 28th - We were up early, had our breakfast and were on our way.  It was raining again when we left, then we got a sleet/snow combo and then more rain.  Hope that it isn't like this all day.  Soon the rain had stopped.  Now we were into high cross winds.  We could tell when the side wind was going to hit because the leaves flew off the trees and pelted us like the snow and sleet did.  We were glad to finally drive out of it.

We stopped at Driftwood Camp-RV Park at exit 76B on I-65.  It is in Edinburgh, IN just 33 south of Indianapolis.  It is a small park, but is easy on and off of I-65.  The rate was excellent.  We paid $14.84 including tax for 1 night with 30 amp service and there was also water and sewer.  We will be stopping there on our return trip.  We got the TV satellite tuned in, had supper (I walked over to Hardy's and bought burgers and fries) and that was our day for today.

Oct 27th - This is a do very little day.  We will be having a long day tomorrow, so today is a relax and enjoy day.

The only thing I have to do today is to do our laundry.  They have a real nice laundry here at the park and I always make use of it, when we are at this park.  Soon the laundry was all clean and I was back at the coach.  We had an early supper and called it a day shortly after.  We hope that it doesn't snow tomorrow.  

Oct 26th - We drove up to Auburn, MI to visit with our cousin Pat.  We always enjoy our visits.  She had the house all decorated for Halloween.  We visited for a couple of hours and then were on our way.  We stopped in Bay City at the local Ponderosa Steak House for their senior salad bar.  After lunch and a quick stop at Miejer's we headed back to Lakeshore RV.  We were back in the early afternoon.

 I took a walk with the camera and caught some Canadian Geese taking a break also.  They are fun to watch.  It looks like they were practicing to form into their V shape for flight in the water.  They were calling to each other and every once in a while about 5 of them, that still remained on the bank of the lake, took flight and landed in various areas of the floating V.  There was only a few of them speaking and the rest seemed to be listening and following directions.  There were 4 floating about 100 feet away from the center of the massive V and seemed to be observing the whole show.  I have watched birds for a number of years, but this is the first time I have been able to observe this activity.    Later in the day I was able to take these photos of the geese enjoying a much earned lunch.

We were sitting watching TV and all the activities of the park when I saw an in-park repair van go by.  We hadn't been able to get our water heater working yet.  We had installed the new electronic board but every time we fired it up it popped the little 2 amp fuse on the board.  I hopped in the car and was on my way after her.  I flashed the lights, waved at her and anything else that I could think of.  Lady!  Can't you see the $$$'s being waved at you?  Can't you see business chasing you?  Why won't you stop????  I followed her to the gate house and watched her go on out of the park.  I went to the gate house and the security said not to worry, she is in the park several times a day.  He gave me her card and I went back to the coach.  We gave her a call and left a message on the voice mail.  Just got settled back in and here she comes again.  This time I am going to catch her.  I jumped in the car and was in hot pursuit within seconds.  She isn't getting out of this park until she repairs our hot water tank.  

After a quick trip around half of the park - success!  I was able to talk to her.  She said she had another stop, but would be around.  Yah!  Hot water at last!  

Back at the coach, we sat and waited.  Time seems to slow down when you are waiting for something.   Meanwhile the trailer across from us left and we decided to switch sides.  We hadn't been able to get TV satellite on the site where we were at and knew that we could across the street.  We only had to unplug the electric and were across, backed in, hooked back up, and satellite tuned in before another half hour had passed.

Rachael of Nordstrom RV - on-site RV Repair in Flint, MI and Okeechobee Fl. areas stopped and had the problem with the hot water tank solved in seconds.  She only charged us a $60.00 service call for the repair.  Great work and a very reasonable charge.  She is in the Flint, MI area for the summer, until sometime in November and then she is in Okeechobee until spring.  Her Flint, MI number is 810 789 3477 and her Okeechobee number is 863 357 3427.  She really seems to know her stuff and we will be keeping her numbers.  Give her a call if you need quality, reliable in park work in these areas.  We are starting a new page to list the repair people that has provided service - good or bad - we will be listing both and letting you know why we rate them call again or not.  We hope that you can learn from our experiences.

That just about wrapped up this day, but now we have hot water.

Oct. 25th.- We left early for our drive to Elkhart, IN.  We are on a mission to buy our new power step.  Four hours later we are in Elkhart at the RV Surplus Salvage.  We bought our step, loaded it into the trunk of the car and were on our way back to Davison, MI.  We were home before dark.  It was an 8 hour drive round trip, plus about a half hour at the RV Salvage and another half hour lunch break.  We had the car so the majority of the trip was at 70 miles an hour.  I was very tired after the trip because I had driven the round trip myself.  Usually I drive when we are in the car and Doug drives when we are taking the coach.  There are no photos since I was driving, 

We didn't do anything after we got back, accept for having our supper and heading for sleepy time.

Oct. 24 - Well, today is the day that we start our journey south for the winter.  It was raining hard and cold when we left.  By the time we got to 402 highway it had stopped raining and the sun was trying to put in an appearance.  We were at the border crossing between Sarnia, ON and Port Huron, MI by 9 a.m. 

This is the border crossing from the Canadian side.  We were coming up to the toll booth.  Soon we were on the bridge crossing

over to Michigan.  We  are still on the Canadian side here. 

 if you look real hard at this photo you can see the green sign in the arches of the bridge saying we are entering Michigan.  Soon we were on the down side of the bridge heading for Customs.  

We take some food items with us, but they are all things that we are allowed.  Doug loves Schnieders Red Hot Hot Dogs.  We had a winter supply.  The freezer was stuffed with the wieners, a pack of sausage, a pack of pork ribs, and more wieners.  When we pulled up to customs they asked what we had and I said pork, they wanted to know where we were going and we told them, Davison, MI, Alabama, then Clewiston, FL.  He wanted to know where Clewiston was and I explained that the town was on the south edge of Lake Okeechobee.  He then said that they had better have a look at what food we were taking with us.  No problem, come on in, but watch the first step, it is a doiser.  We hadn't replaced the step yet, that Doug had caught on the bridge in Chatham, when the two transport trucks put the squeeze on him.  Three Customs Officers came into the coach and had a look around.  Everything we had was okay and they left a few minutes later.  We were on our way.  We are always honest and upfront with them.  That way we never seem to have a REAL BIG problem.  Just a minor delay here and there.  They are just doing their job and they do a fine job of it.  They are always courteous and we have never been delayed to long.  (Touch wood, as I pat my head.8) )

Another hour and we were pulling into Lakeshore.  There was lots of construction on I-69, but no long delays, just one lane traffic.

We got set up in our site for four days.  The satellite TV was up and working.  That was about enough for today.  Tomorrow we go to Elkhart, IN to buy a new power step at the Elkhart RV Salvage place.  This is a Fleamarket for the RV.  You can find just about anything you need, at a fantastic price, for your RV.  If you are converting a bus this is a must stop.  Tomorrow we will get our new power step there and hard to say what else.  Doug always finds something extra.

Oct. 23 - Monday morning found us in Thedford having coffee with Russell.  We had a nice visit with him, said we would see him in the spring and was on our way to Tilbury by 10:00 a.m.  We picked up the mail, said a final farewell, got a hug from Jody and was on our way back to Chatham.  We picked up my eye drops, which the doctors office had missed ordering.  Finally, we think that we have everything completed for us to leave tomorrow.  We left Chatham and headed back to Arkona.

When we reached Arkona, we dumped our tanks, and then went to Rock Glen Family Resort office to exchange our gate card for my Outdoor Adventures Platinum membership card.  Don't want to forget that baby.  I will be putting it to good use this winter.

We relaxed the balance of the day so that we would be wide awake for the first leg of our trip.  Next stop Lakeshore, an American Campground RV park in Davison, MI.  

Oct. 22 - It is that time of year again.  We are meeting family and friends for a Sunday morning breakfast before we leave for the winter.  Jody and Rachael couldn't make it because Jody was at the last mud bog gathering of the boys for the winter.  Several friends and family were there though to see us off.  There were a few missing due to illness and we hope that they will feel better soon.

Everyone is smiling because they had just finished an excellent breakfast at Yeck's Family Restaurant in Ridgetown.  It was excellent!  We will be back in the spring for another one.  We are still in Arkona so it was a bit over an hours drive to get here, but we are glad that we were able to make it.  Just before we left, I heard Jack say "does anyone want any Quince?"  I said "did you say Quince?"  He said "yes, do you want some?"  I said "I don't, but I know someone that does.  Our old neighbor Art has been looking for some for years."  To make a long conversation short, Jack told us to go to their place and get some.   

After breakfast and final visit for this year, we decided that we had better make a couple more stops.

We went to Jack and Fran's place in Morpeth.  Jack and Fran wasn't there yet, but their son's were and they helped me gather up a plastic bag full of Quince and we were on our way.

Our next stop was at our nephew Don's house.  We had a nice visit with Don and his adoptive Mom Ruby and were on our way back to Arkona.  On our way through Louisville, ON we stopped and gave Art his Quince apples.  His daughter and son-in-law was visiting him from Michigan.   I took the quince in and said hello, nice to meet you, etc., and then we were on our way back to Arkona.

We have lots to do and only today and tomorrow to do it in.

We started stowing items and putting everything in their travel position.  I went through the freezer, fridge and cupboards and removed everything that I knew we weren't allowed to take across the border.  Soon we were sitting back and relaxing for the balance of the day.

While relaxing, I looked out the window and saw several dozen robins.  They blended into the fallen leaves and wouldn't show up in a photo.  They were looking for dinner before their long flight south.