Sitting Pretty in Sunny South Florida

OK, I've put this off long enough.  I've already forgotten a few items, but not really a lot to say.

Like I tweeted on Saturday, it was a really mundane travel day.  I left home very early-I just couldn't sleep in.  I was pulling my truck behind the RV for the first time.  I've pulled the boat behind it many times, but the truck is much different.

I spent the first hour just getting used to how it behaved on hills, curves, etc.  Chattanooga is about 1.5 hours South of me by car-it took me an extra hour to get there.  By the time I got to I-75 though, things were humming along pretty well.  Big 18 wheelers still gave me grief, but in the RV, they always do-truck or no truck.

Anyway, I had reservations at a site in Perry, GA.  Perry is about 100 miles South of Atlanta.  I actually thought it would take me longer to get there than it did.  No problems in Chattanooga, Atlanta, or Macon just got me there early.  I was pretty worn out though, so did minimal set-up and ate cold chicken and boiled eggs for supper, had a couple stiff drinks, and hit the sheets.

Had a really great 9 hours of sleep, got up Sunday morning with no way to hol--wait, no, I got up feeling good, fixed bacon, eggs, toast with butter and apple jelly, washed down with hot coffee and cold milk.  (I'm a milk baby still)

Since I only had to unhook water and electric, it only took a few minutes to get on the road again.  I left the campsite a little after 8 AM.  I had no reservations for Sunday night.  The plan was rough, but simple.  I wanted to get as far South as possible, and for sure wanted to get south of Tampa.  Tampa is really a busy place, construction on I-75 in that area is a constant.  I don't think they would be finished with it if they had 25 perfect lanes going in each direction.

Anyway, I did well on the stops this day.  I combined pit stops with fuel stops, so that really saved a lot of time.  I did find a problem at the first fuel stop though, and this may cost me a bundle to repair. As I was fueling, I smelled gas.  I looked around, stepped away a couple of steps and saw fuel pouring out from under the RV!  Oh crap, I've filled it above the overflow!  Nope, I had only put about 5 gallons in it :(

Long and short of this is, there is a hole somewhere in the lower part of the filler tube.  I found that if I just trickle the fuel in, it all goes into the tank and none on the ground.  However, if I pump it at regular speed, there is quite a bit spills onto the ground.  This is NOT acceptable.  Also, dangerous!

Back to the trip.  As I said, I wanted to get south of Tampa, and I made it.  Saw a sign for a rest area-next rest area I think was 95 miles.  OK, I know I can't make it that much farther-that's where I'm headed :)  Just as I pull in, I see a sign "Bradenton-14 miles".  Light bulbs flash-I've been here before, know an RV park called Horseshoe Cove Carefree RV resort.  I stayed a month there two years ago.  It's just about a mile off the interstate, one right turn, make a left one block down right into the entrance.

While I'm at the rest stop, I look them up on my trusty apple, give them a call.  Yep, they have a pull through site right up front that is perfect for me.  The lady said she would be there until eight.  That's fine, it's about five, so I tell her I'll see her in about half an hour, or less.  I plug the address into the Garmin and off we go. What can go wrong??   Remember that Murphy guy? Yeah, that guy can go wrong.

I felt funny when I was directed off I-75 onto I-275 toward St. Pete, but just figured I was going in a closer way than before.  First thing I know I'm in a residential neighborhood, dead end streets not wide enough to turn around, and Garmin says I've arrived!  Crap!  I dig out the apple again, ask for directions to Horseshoe Cove.  Siri has no clue.  I ask for directions to Horseshoe Cove Carefree RV Resort.  "Getting directions". OK, new we're getting somewhere.  "Proceed to the route" I go around one block, right back where I was.  "You have arrived"!  I see a guy using a leaf blower at the edge of the street.  Stop and ask directions while shredding my mancard.  He tells me to take a right at the end of the street, go over a hill, and there is an RV park at the bottom of that hill.  OK, take a right, street blocked by a fence.

I make a u-turn in a children's playground and head back out of there.  Ask siri for directions to I-75. Not a problem-half an hour later I can see I-75.  I turn the Garmin back on, put in the address again, tell Siri to direct me to the address.  Guess what-they both tell me to take a u-turn!  Oh no, not going there.

I get close to I-75, see Caruso Road.  I know where I am, but leave the instruments on just to see what they will do.  As I'm pulling into the RV park, they are both yelling at me to make a u-turn.  I don't know what's with them and u-turns??  Anyone??

Anyway, the lady and I had a good laugh-she said a lot of people have that problem with their address.  I didn't think it was very funny, but knew it wasn't her fault.

I again only hooked up water and electric.  Took a bath with Action Wipes because I didn't want to heat water, shower, fill holding tanks with that extra weight, then haul it all the way to where I am now.

I saw a lot of signs along the way advertising a new RV dealership and parts store.  I decided, since it was so close to my exit, and I was too early for check-in, that I would check them out.  It is a huge place, would be hard to count the many RVs they have in stock.  It is their Grand Opening week.  I was going to try to get them to look at the filler neck fuel problem, but they aren't doing any repairs for a couple of weeks while they get set up a little better.  OK.

I got over here to the Corps of Engineers campground a little after noon.  The lady at check in asked where I'm from.  I start to explain that it's just a little town on I-40 between Knoxville and Nashville.  She says, "Oh-Crossville! We're from Chattanooga" :)

They are work campers, and in return for keeping the gate, and doing a few small odd jobs, they get a campsite with full hookups for free for the amount of time they want to stay.  It's a great gig for a couple.  A single guy like me couldn't do it due to someone having to be there all the time during open hours-sunrise to sunset.  And, 7 days per week.

I'm about caught up, so hang in there just a couple more minutes :)  Since I've been here I've ridden the trail bike twice-just around inside the small park.  This isn't the place where they have the trails all around the lake.  This is the Caloosahatchee (I'm sure I didn't spell that right-just sound it out) river.  I was under the impression I would be on Lake Okechobee, catching bass, bream, crappie-fresh water fish.  Nope, salt water on one side of the park, brackish water on the other.  I've fished a little, but just didn't plan on this at all.

I have gone to the park where I'll be spending the winter.  Talked with friends I met there last winter, arranged to store the RV there while I go to Sarasota to be with the family during the week of Christmas,  friends recommended a place that might be able to repair my fuel problem.  I've talked with the guy and he assures me that if he can't fix it, he will find someone who can.  I think I like this guy already.

OK, you are now up to date.  I'll try not to wait so long on the next one, but at the same time, will wait until I at least have something to say :)

Until then, keep the rubber side down!

Jeff