Topic: Last Day on the Road (Read 1024 times)

PancakeBill · « **on:** October 23, 2009, 05:12:09 AM »

Woke up early today. It is our last day on the road. Spent the night at a Walmart. How do you guys do it all the time? We stopped to see a friend at his home in Valdosta, he is almost gone. Sad but joyful visit. Wedecided not to stay on the street, (his suggestion to stay) n frontof their home in the gated posh community. Didn't want them getting letters. Plus it made for a clean leaving.

We drove till well past dark, and the one CG we pulled inot ws $35 a night. Way over my threshhold, so we moved on. Saw a sign for a state park, but was a way away from the exit, unlit roads, passed on that one. Back on the road. (75 FL) We got to Lake City, sa a sign for In n Out RV Park, OK, they have right attitude with the name, but it must have meant In n out of business. At this point my decision was find a place for the night or drive the rest of the 145 miles. Walmart was in front of us. Parked, security came by to wish us a safe night.

Dang! What a noisy place! Car alarms, trucks, loud cars etc. It did quiet down eventually, at least until 5:30 AM with delivery trucks etc. I am up now.

Anyway, rant off.

Last day on the road. Bitterswet. We have been away 10 months, an awesome 10 months. Not continuous travel like some have done, but really cool 10 months. Travel the last 2550 miles across country, seeing some beautiful scenery. Staying in some nice CG's, reflecting on our time in Quartzsite, Phoenix, Utah and Yellowstone. The knowledge that the next 5 or 6 months will be passed in a long workday, but with friends family, holidays tc. Looking forward to it, but if we had a magic calender we would likely set the months back. I won't turn them forward, too much to exsperience n the next interim.

Anyway, what foes through your mind on that last 150 mile entry?

Tom · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2009, 06:08:59 AM »

Congratulations Bill & Jolene on a successful 10 months away from home. Sorry about the WM stay, but it just helps reaffirm our choice not to stay at WMs.

PancakeBill · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2009, 06:33:04 AM »

Tom
Jolene said this morning, 'next time we just pay the 35 bucks' I slept better than her. a 24 hour WM means just that. Deliveries, shopping and why is it that the folks with the least amount of muffler on their car are the ones needing things at 2AM.

One of lifes mysteries.

Highway rest stops aren't much better, but they don't have local traffic.

Barb · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2009, 07:12:21 AM »

When we overnight at a WM, we try to select one with a tire and lube. They are closed from 7 to 7. So there is less noise and traffic. We try to park there along a curb. The more one overnights at a WM, the easier it gets. One learns to relax more, which makes for a better night sleep.

Wendy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2009, 12:42:37 PM »

We find WalMarts much quieter than rest stops. You need to find a corner away from the delivery docks and away from the entrance doors where most customers park. And if you can get away from the street, that helps, too. We've been able to find quiet spots at all the WMs we've stopped at except Gallup New Mexico (skip that one if you're interested in sleeping).

Wendy

Dick and Pat · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2009, 12:53:54 PM »

Quote from: Tom on October 23, 2009, 06:08:59 AM

Sorry about the WM stay, but it just helps reaffirm our choice not to stay at WMs.

Same here...just can't get ourselves to try W-M camping, even with costs for a CG site as the alternative.

Glad you had a wonderful trip, Bill & Jolene

PancakeBill · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2009, 08:03:24 PM »

Well, we made it home. Pulled in a little before noon today. Great trip, just over 2800 miles. Haven't tallied the gallons yet, but spot checking showed 7.3+ mpg. No issues, only one traffic 'jam', and it was only a couple miles. Couldn't ask for better weather, places that had been cold and cloudy were warm and sunny when we got there. Florida however is now warmer than we saw all summer in Yellowstone.

Only issues we faced were weeds, weeds, a leak in the water line behind the fridge onbce we turned the water back on, a dead battery in the car we left home. Have my hands full I guess.

Ken & Sheila · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2009, 08:53:42 PM »

Welcome home.

Were glad you could come out west and see us folks on the left side of the country.

We hope to make back east in a few years

ken & sheila

PancakeBill · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2009, 06:41:48 PM »

Move East? WHY! West is best, it even rhymes. We a\will be back in the spring, our son is moving to Tucson, we will robably be in Catalina some time in early April.

We had a great trip, came home to some issues, car battery dead, water turned off, weeds, not much, but some things to work through.

Wedds pulled, water on, new battery, nothing much.

Ken & Sheila · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2009, 09:02:28 PM »

Bill, I didn't say MOVE east, just come east (like in a trip to see our EC friends).

see you next year!

ken

Jim Dick · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2009, 10:40:04 PM »

Hi Bill & Jolene,

Welcome back home!!! Glad you made it safely. We are on our way to CT for a 50th High School reunion but wil be back by 10 November. This year WE WILL get together!!! Maybe we can both ride the bikes to a central location. Glad you had a great trip. Hope your folks are doing well. We really miss seeing you and them.

PancakeBill · « **Reply #11 on:** October 25, 2009, 01:43:32 PM »

Ken Whew... thought we were going to have to do an intervention oor something.

Jim. Yes, we will. I am itching to get on the bike, we just finished putting about everything away, now to jump in the pool. Then a ride.

Then a nice cold adult bev.

Jim Dick · « **Reply #12 on:** October 25, 2009, 05:22:56 PM »

Ken,

Be sure to let us know of your plans. It's been way too long since we've seen you and Sheila!!!

Bill,

We'll be back in Florida by 10 November. Have a couple of doctor visits scheduled. Let's find a place where we can meet and perhaps ride a little. Maybe sometime we can get over to Lazy Days, if our free nights are still good, and ride from there.

PancakeBill · « **Reply #13 on:** October 25, 2009, 08:32:00 PM »

Jim
Sounds good to me. I'll be here. I think the second Sat in Nov there is a bike night in Zephyrhills. Maybe plan around something like that? Do you have Passport membership? My park honors the cards, not free but cheap. If the park says OK you can come right in behind our park model, water & elec. You would back right up to our patio.

Jim Dick · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2009, 06:08:40 AM »

Bill,

Yes, we do have Passport America but it ends 12/31. We'll figure something out. I have several free days at Lazy Days that came with our coach. The last time we used them they said they were good forever. That was before the economy failed.

We won't be back to FL until 10 November. Have doctor appointment and test that week.

Jim

PancakeBill · « **Reply #15 on:** October 26, 2009, 06:43:58 AM »

I am sure it is still good, they are honoring everything else. Have fun up in CT. You drive the car or coach?

Jim Johnson · « **Reply #16 on:** October 26, 2009, 07:58:48 AM »

Quote

We won't be back to FL until 10 November

Jim

Just in time for the Blue Angels Homecoming

hamguy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2009, 02:10:10 PM »

Quote from: PancakeBill on October 23, 2009, 06:33:04 AM

Tom
Jolene said this morning, 'next time we just pay the 35 bucks' I slept better than her. a 24 hour WM means just that. Deliveries, shopping and why is it that the folks with the least amount of muffler on their car are the ones needing things at 2AM.

One of lifes mysteries.

Highway rest stops aren't much better, but they don't have local traffic.

Why do they wait 'til 2AM? Easy, the bars close at 1AM!

PancakeBill · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2009, 04:23:52 PM »

Hamguy, what is your call, and congrats on the honor roll. W1YRC a very good friend is way up there too.

Jim Dick · « **Reply #19 on:** November 03, 2009, 10:21:50 AM »

Quote from: Jim Johnson on October 26, 2009, 07:58:48 AM

Jim

Just in time for the Blue Angels Homecoming

Hi JJ,

And what a homecoming it will be! Won't make that one but we did see them at Kennedy Space Center last winter. Wonderful show!! Got some neat photos.

Jim Johnson · « **Reply #20 on:** November 03, 2009, 10:41:46 AM »

Quote

what a homecoming it will be

We are just finishing up a 4 month trip and that will be our last stop. Sad thinking that last year Karl was with us.

Lorna · « **Reply #21 on:** November 03, 2009, 07:48:19 PM »

Speaking of Karl, we enjoyed a very nice campfire in his washer/dryer fire pit tonight. It certainly brought back fond memories of him

Oh how we miss him

Jim Dick · « **Reply #22 on:** November 04, 2009, 08:06:43 AM »

Quote from: Jim Johnson on November 03, 2009, 10:41:46 AM

We are just finishing up a 4 month trip and that will be our last stop. Sad thinking that last year Karl was with us.

It certainly is sad. We are sitting at Chet Parks and I'm using the Hawking dish I purchased from Karl that weekend. It is unique as he named it the Karlosat and added the blue lihgt.:-) It does remind me of a great person.

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Author Topic: Last Day on the Road (Read 1024 times)