A Stormy Night, Angry Surf, Routine Chores around the Campsite

February 5, 2010.  The storm overnight was incredible.  The winds were gusting to 45 mph and the rig was shaking a bit.  These winds were ahead of the rain.  I was concerned about some of the dead pine trees around our site potentially falling in the wind.  By 1:00 a.m. the rain had started and it continued till about 10:00 a.m.  After that the skies cleared and things began to dry off rather quickly.

We got outside late in the morning after the rain had stopped and took Maggie and Rico for walks.  I then collected the satellite dish and stand from where I had laid it down under the rig.  I noticed that the wind had rolled it over.  I set the stand and satellite up and went to get my “satellite finder” gage and turn the receiver on to calibrate a signal.  Surprisingly, I had found the satellite by sheer luck when I stood it up!   So all it took was some fine tuning and anchoring and I was all set!

I rode my bike out to the beach where I could hear the roar of the incoming waves.  I walked out on the boardwalk and saw the crashing waves on the beach.  I didn’t have a camera with me and Joyce was back at the rig.  So I left to go back and get both.

Together we rode our bikes back out to the beach to watch and record the awesome beauty of an angry surf after the passing of a storm.

The red flag not only indicates how strong the wind was blowing but denotes a high hazard warning for beach goers.

Later in the afternoon, we decided to clean the insides or our vehicles.  It had been months since we had vacuumed either one of them.  We use a small 1.5 gallon shop-vac that we purchased from Walmart.  It does a good job.

Maggie and Rico always want to ride in the car or truck.  They rarely if ever get to ride in the car.  But are constantly alert to any activity around the car and especially the truck.  They both wanted to be as close as possible as I was cleaning the truck, just in case they were invited for a ride!

Several new campers moved into the park today.  One across from us landed with a tire going flat.  He put on his spare which was nearly flat, so I hooked up my compressor for him to air it up.  The remainder of the day we spent relaxing at home and taking short walks or bike rides.

RICO'S BIRTHDAY!

Jan. 3 2009, we awoke to 37 degree temps and clear skies.  A hard freeze had been forecast for overnight and I learned later that some areas around us had ice.  However, we didn’t get a freeze on our site.  I think it’s because of the forest canopy or maybe our proximity to the river.

It was Rico’s 5th Birthday, so we took Rico and Maggie for a walk down his favorite dirt forest road, Road 1.  When we first came to Big Shoals, we took Rico and Maggie with us on hikes along the trails.  However, that usually resulted in the dogs overheating and huffing and puffing so loud as to scare anything within 50 yards of us away.  We discovered we didn’t enjoy hiking with the dogs on leash.  I also was worried they might come across a rattlesnake and not react appropriately.  However of greater concern was the fact that we found a couple of small ticks on them after the hikes on the narrow trails.  Subsequently, we resolved to only take them on dirt roads or fire roads to limit contact with brush and vegetation and thus ticks.

After our walk, we didn’t do anything exciting as it remained cold only warming to the mid 40’s. I stayed home with the dogs and Joyce took her car to Lake City to do some shopping (her favorite hobby).  Before committing to our full time RV lifestyle, we had made a decision to keep her car.  Although it’s now 8 years old (2002) it only has 60K miles.  We decided we would try our lifestyle with both vehicles as it gives us more versatility.  Moreover, I haven’t convinced myself to let her drive “my truck”.  In all seriousness, the truck is very large and a diesel.  I don’t like to use it for short trips and it’s not always easy to find a place to park it.  Also it’s not very economical at about 14-15 mpg whereas the car gets 23-26 mpg.  We’ve thought about selling or trading the car for a jeep or SUV, but will wait to see how the whole two vehicle situation plays out down the road when we get more travel miles under our belts.

Happy New Year

Jan 1, 2010.  Happy New Year and wishes for a Prosperous New Year!  We woke up today to 55 degrees and cloudy drizzly skies.  

Jan. 31, 2010.  We stayed in the park except for a quick excursion to a historic hotel in White Springs for lunch at the Telford Hotel.  They had a buffet for $6.50. The price was very good but the buffet itself was average.  Although the building is historic and interesting, it’s in serious need of a makeover.  Established in 1903, rooms are still available for rent, but I wouldn’t want one!

The Telford Hotel est. 1903 in White Springs, Fl.

 Hallway leading to the upstairs rooms.

One of the rooms for rent

Last night, temps were in the 60’s in the early evening and we had the door open with only the screen door closed to the rig.  Our female boxer, Maggie kept alerting to the door and initially I ignored her as our male boxer Rico didn’t seem concerned.  Finally I relented and went to step outside and see if anything was out there.  We had a full “Blue Moon” for New Year’s Eve.  Maggie uncharacteristically pushed past me and jumped the stairs to get outside.  She then began sniffing across the site and behind a woodpile at the edge of the woods.  Suddenly something bolted into the woods with Maggie in hot pursuit.  I couldn’t see what it was, but I’m guessing a wild hog, raccoon or armadillo.  I don’t know because it took off so fast.  Maggie chased for a few yards and then ran back to the rig. 

I haven’t written much about our dogs.  Rico is 82 lbs. and will be 5 years old in a couple of days and Maggie is 55lbs and 6. 5 years old.  They are both very spoiled and have adapted remarkably well.   Rico has always had issues with slippery tile floors, narrow spaces and stairs.  Maggie has always been the most athletic of the two with no confidence issues.  I was concerned that Rico might have difficulty adjusting to our new lifestyle.  Surprisingly he has adapted very well with his “issues” diminishing.  Rico still won’t climb the steps into the rig on his own.  He climbs the first two steps with his front legs and then waits for someone to lift his rear legs on to the first step at which time he continues the climb.   Bizarre for sure, but it works.  When he exits the rig, he reaches down to the first step and then leaps out.  Maggie climbs up and down in a more natural fashion.

Now Maggie, has always had some separation anxiety.  When we lived in a stick and brick house, Maggie had a metal crate that was her little den.  They were both crate trained as puppies however, Maggie continued to use her crate even after we discontinued locking them inside when we left the house.  Rico never cared for the crate but Maggie would use hers everyday.  In fact she would get into it whenever she sensed we would be leaving them alone.  After leaving them alone in the rig awhile back, we noticed that some of the windows had nose prints and saliva on them. It was apparent that Maggie was having separation issues.  Ultimately we ended up buying her a soft canvas crate that now occupies a portion of our dining table space.  This seems to have resolved her issues.  

Maggie and Rico thoroughly enjoy traveling in our truck as they are always eager to get into it, which requires that I lift them.

Rico's favorite spot seems to be in front of the ceramic heater.  Back when we had a fireplace, he liked to lay in front of the fire.

We love them but they both are eating us out of house and home!  Thankfully neither one of them are destructive or barkers.  They have plenty of licks and boxer wiggles for anyone that visits.