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The adventure begins
<<< Tuesday, 6 February 1996
Landed 45 minutes late after a good flight, were picked up by Chris Yates (car salesman) and driven to the car dealership where we tried without success to progress our car insurance application.
Wednesday, 7 February 1996
Spent considerable time on the telephone progressing car insurance - filled in forms and arranged for them to be delivered by express mail. The car insurance only becomes effective the day after the postmark so Chris Yates allowed us to drive our car on trade plates
Thursday, 8 February 1996
Went shopping for lots and lots of things for the RV including bedding, so spending a small fortune!
Friday, 9 February 1996
The car was wired up for towing by Independence RV, but the
tow bar would not fit our 1996 Sports version, so the dealer had to order new
parts by express delivery. Drove the RV to the Stage Stop which is a campsite
about two miles from the RV dealer. This was quite an event driving a
38-foot-long rig down a busy road. We decided to stay close to the RV dealership
for about a week so giving time to check that everything in the RV works
properly and just as important to ensure we know how to operate all the
equipment!
Saturday, 10 February 1996
The new tow bar had arrived OK and was fitted to the car by
Independence RV.
Sunday, 11 February 1996
Fitted water filter to the kitchen tap after lots of problems with fittings and leaks.
Monday, 12 February 1996
Finally got the water filter leakproof, then found and
fixed a leak in the hot water tank which was a manufactures fault.
Tuesday, 13 February 1996
Day mainly spent at the campsite. A very friendly couple
from Ohio gave us wooden blocks, a rug etc., and asked us to send them
postcard reports (which they supplied), as we travel around the States. They
have an antique clock business and use their RV to visit antique exhibitions
Wednesday, 14 February 1996
Spent the day buying more equipment from KMart and Camping
World and installing it in the RV.
Thursday, 15 February 1996
Went by car to Fort Desota
- 260 miles round trip by car - and booked up at a very attractive waterside
campsite for five days starting this Sunday.
Friday, 16 February 1996
Fitted rubber skirt to rear of RV to protect the car when towing. Ordered a Telecoupler. (This is a device to enable George to connect his computer to a pay phone so he can send and receive E-mail via CompuServe).
Saturday, 17 February 1996
During the practice run coupling car to the RV, we found
that the electrical cord was too short. Spent 3 hours at Independence RV whilst
they made up a special lead.
Sunday, 18 February 1996
Have not found a way of getting online during the past week to check our E-mail Have ordered an acoustic coupler (Telecoupler) from a company in California, which should enable us to use any public phone. Because we are on the move we have arranged for the coupler to be sent to the main post office in Orlando, where we plan to pick it up on Friday. So it may be another week before we can download our E-mail
Today was a big day as we towed for the first time the car
behind the RV, it was quite an experience as the rig is 55 feet long. We drove
120 miles south to St. Petersburg which is
on the west coast of Florida. The campsite turned out to be very good. It
is on a palm-lined beach with white sand, and a blue sea with raccoons,
squirrels, sea birds, pelicans and huge herons everywhere.
Monday, 19 February 1996
A nice sunny morning so we decided to go to St.
Petersburg to have a look around. It is a pretty place with a lot of pink
buildings and some very large houses on the waterfront with boats moored
outside. We went onto the pier which we had read was worth a visit.
Disappointing and not a patch on Pier 39, San Francisco. Just a few fancy shops
and several eating places. It was then time for food shopping to stock up for
another few days. It was still lovely and warm when we got back to camp so we
had a walk along the beach - everybody is very friendly and chatty.
A cloudy morning and we had to move the RV to a different
pitch. We knew it would be a bit difficult because of an overhanging tree and in
the end, had to back it out but George of course managed it with Valerie's help!
After which the sun still had not appeared so we went for a drive to see more of
the Desoto National Park. Walked on
the North Beach which must be packed in the summer, the car park would probably
hold a thousand cars. The top of the beach was equipped with tables and
barbecues and the usual comfort stations. George later phoned the RV and car
people but still no news on the tags! Valerie phoned Lesley (her sister) who
said they were having more heavy snow and very cold winds. It was a coincidence
that we phoned today as Lesley had just posted a letter to us.
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Wednesday, 21 February 1996
Had our now customary walk along the beach after breakfast and enjoyed the sunshine. Went food shopping and ended up buying a small gas BBQ but did not use it tonight as a thick sea mist rolled in.
Thursday, 22 February 1996
Went out with the cameras today to record the campground and some of the surrounding areas. After lunch, we phoned Kevin and then gave the RV and car a wash down. Moving to a new campsite tomorrow The Blue Parrot, at Ladylike.
Friday, 23rd February 1996
We moved 140 miles north to the Blue Parrot campsite at
Lady Lake which took about five hours. We were delayed for about 45 minutes
due to an accident on I75. Needed to fill up the RV - 62 gallons! Immediately
upon arrival at the campsite, we backtracked 40 miles by car to the post office,
but the acoustic coupler had not arrived. The postman said that can take up to
10 days from California. Chased up the RV tags and thank goodness it
looks like we will get them early next week. Still no real progress with tags
for the car.
Saturday, 24th February 1996
Quiet day getting settled into the new site. We partly chose this site as it offered phone hookups, however, the connection must be made by the local ‘phone company - $60 and will take some days to organise, so will be of no use to us. Food and RV parts shopping during the afternoon.
Sunday, 25th February 1996
Above average temperatures so we used the air conditioning for the first time, worked very well. Spent half the day working out how to connect up cable TV and tune in to the TV set. Valerie did the washing. Went out for an evening meal.
Monday, 26th February 1996
Yes, very hot again. We went to Silver Springs for the day which is an outdoor attraction built around the Silver River. The river starts from this point, being fed by several underwater springs which we saw from a glass-bottomed boat
Tuesday, 27th February 1996
Yes, hot again! Had lunch out and then went to the Winter Garden post office but the parcel had still not arrived. George phoned California again without success. We then went to Independence RV and collected the RV tags (hooray) JRR 8050.
Wednesday, 28 February 1996
Went to Epcot which was enjoyable but not as good as our first visit some years ago. Stayed until the end and watched the fireworks display, also a little disappointing
Thursday, 29 February 1996
Food shopping, washing and ironing. Telecoupler arrived!
However, could not get it to work, no instructions were supplied. Phoned Frys
who promised information within 24 hours.
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