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Blogs

J. Dawg Journeys
 

Living in a Small RV - Parked for The First Month

We're at San Carlos RV Park in Fort Myers Beach and have just about completed the first month of stay put living in our small RV. Its the longest we've ever stayed parked in one place. In a nut shell, so far so good. We're still married, still mostly sane, still talking, nobody's been hurt, and we're having a pretty good time. It took a little time to find our groove, but we've settled in and developed our routines. I think it's working out. Here's some observations. We are joined by all
italo

italo

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Melvin's Travels
 

Now we found sugar cane fields

1-19-15 Nothing specific planned for today, so I had a few things to fix on Gracie. Tie up the TV wires was first, then I leveled the wall mount. I was really tired of looking at a tilted picture. An easy adjustment that was waiting for a level parking spot. Next I moved on to airing up the tires. Not so good here. The air fitting hadn't been used for who knows how long and needed replacement. 20 miles to hardware store ^*%#{". Get parts and save that job for another day. Instead I spray lubed
Castle3

Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Orange Groves Everywhere

F1-17-15 Yesterday was a banner day. Nothing to do but a trip to HD. We slept in until 9:30. The grill was already out so it was a good time to try out the grill mat I purchased at the RV show. It's primary use is cooking vegetables, but it's intended to stay on the grill all the time. So I decided to cook some bacon. It worked like magic. The bacon browned nicely and all the grease stayed on the mat. Clean up later was a cinch. Wipe the worst with paper towels, then heat it up and wipe the res
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

All is good in the hood

1-16-15 Today we enjoyed the fun of good neighbors. Ruth took Oscar for his morning walk and met a couple from Nottingham NH just across the road. When I went out to have a cigar, I met our neighbor to the left. He is recently retired and sells jewelry, his wife makes, at rallies, flea markets, and such. Just across the road I met a Viet Nam Marine vet. His wife and he have 5 small dogs. And we think Oscar is a hand full. About 11AM we headed for a Mega RV show at the tampa fairgrounds. Dan th
Castle3

Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

All settled in

1-15-15 Out last night in a motel gave us good reason to appreciate owning a motorhome. From the time we entered until past midnight, we had to listen to slamming doors, shouting voices and moving furniture. (No, I didn't ask what that was all about). As a result Ruth and I woke up tired and ready get out of there. We arrived at our CG about 11 to get Gracie out of storage. With fingers crossed, Ruth entered first. Oh happy day. No musty smell and no sign of critters. I checked the battery mon
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

I saw where Sponge Bob lives

1-13-15 Actually got a great nights sleep. Up at 8 and ready to go by 9. We hit the Waffle House on our way back to the highway. Just as I started up the Burb, I realized I didn't try the Waffles! Oh well my eggs and hash browns were just fine. Drizzly rain and more fog today. Slow going, but we hope to make Jacksonville. Nothing exciting on the road today. Made Jacksonville about 7 PM and we were beat. However it was eat a good supper night. We found a stake house and I had a wonderful file
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

On our way back to Melvin and Gracie

After many days of travel with difficulty logging into FMAC all is well. I continued to write as we traveled, so I suggest reading in date order. Another journey began yesterday. The first 500 miles took us to Elizabethtown PA. We left NH at 9:30 (nearly on schedule). We stopped for lunch at Alexis Diner in Newburgh NY. They have a grand menu with breakfast at any time of day. Over the years I have stopped here many times and was never disappointed. This time I decided on fajitas. Ruth select
Castle3

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J. Dawg Journeys
 

Living in a Small RV - My Florida Winter Plan

I'm in the process of trying something new - staying put for an extended time living in my small RV. Living in an RV is not something new or novel. Lots of folks do it. Full timers do it all the time. I’ve done a fair amount of traveling in RV’s. Over the past few years, I've spent the equivalent of several months away from home living on the road in my RV. But its been living on the road, which involves a lot of traveling, sightseeing, and moving to a new campsite every few days. This wi
italo

italo

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eagle43's Blog
 

New to blogging here.

Just sitting here trying to plan another trip and wondering if I should get involved with blogs and posts. I have reviewed the forums and have learned much as we are new at this since August 2014. Any thoughts or ideas?
eagle43

eagle43

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J. Dawg Journeys
 

I'm Not a Camper. I'm an RVer

I'm not a camper, I'm and RVer. I heard this phrase recently while listening to a podcast and it struck a chord with me. The person who said it, (Nick Russell of the Gypsy Journal) was talking about what he does while living full time in his motorhome. According to Nick, RVer's don't sit around the camp fire and sing Cumbaya. RVer's are in their motorhomes or trailers cooking, using the internet, and watching TV. I write this article as I sit in my air conditioned RV, listening to satellite
italo

italo

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Tom and Louise on Tour in North America
 

Have a Happy New Year

We've been back at our winter residence for nearly two months now. When we were full timing the motor home was our residence. How different things are now. We moved into a mobile home (they call them manufactured homes when they sell them) in 2010. Manufactured is a better term. The home was mobile for about 500 miles but now that it is on its foundation, it likely won't be mobile again until it is hauled away in pieces. Anyway, it is a house and has all the joys and responsibilities of a h
tbutler

tbutler

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Melvin's Travels
 

Heading North in the Burb

12-8-14 We were up at 8 and getting Gracie ready for a 5 week sleep as we return to NH for the holidays. All went on schedule and we were waving goodbye to Gracie by 11 AM. Another oranges for sale sign caused us to stop in before we left FL. Ruthie found a bonus while waiting to be checked out. Pecan Pralines!!! They are a weekness of mine and she bought both plain and chocolate. Oh happy day. Only fresh pecans can satisfy my craving. Trust me, fresh makes all the difference. After Ruthie ha
Castle3

Castle3

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J. Dawg Journeys
 

An RVer's Journey Going Paperless

Getting mail, paying bills, banking, and getting cash - just some of the tasks of modern life. They're simple enough if you're at home, but if you travel a lot, getting paper mail, paying bills, and getting cash can become an added complexity. But thanks to the Internet and mobile communications, these tasks can be transformed to be less dependent on being at your home location. In this post, I'll share what I've done to turn these tasks into paperless and electronic tasks. Let me first say,
italo

italo

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Melvin's Travels
 

Dog days in FLORDIA

12-6-14 After seemingly spinning our wheels getting acclimated to this new life, we finally decided it was time for a Lazy Day on the beach. We did a bit of webulating and selected St. Petersburg. By the time we climbed in the Burb, the ski was all blue and the temp was up to 82! In less than one hour we arrived at our destination. Out with Oscar, a couple towels, and the lawn chairs and down the boarded walk we go. At the last turn, just as we could see the white sand, we slap saw a sign st
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

I'm not the only one

12-5-14 Last night ended with being trapped in our new recliner. No matter what I did I could not get the foot rest to go down. So I finally climbed out. Not a great move for a bad back. So, my plan was to drive back to CW (camping world) early this AM. When I stepped out of Gracie this morning our CG neighbors for the past week were packing up. Skip and his DW Karen are long time campers but as I am, rookie owners of a DP (diesel pusher). In fact they just bought it this week. Anyway we che
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Wonderful days and sleepless nights

12-4-14 Yesterday was a whirlwind. For starters it was the second day in a row that I had not slept a wink. So when we returned from the days activities I was spent. No energy left to write. Even so, last night made it 3 nights in a row without enough sleep. Although I did manage about 2 hours sleep from 5 to 7 AM. If it wasn't for " Ask a nurse" I doubt I'd have gotten that. I called my sister Bonnie (She's the retired nurse. I also have our daughter Christine that's a nurse) to discuss my ail
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Driver confidence day

12-2-14 Today was driver confidence day at the Lazydays learning center. We began with a light breakfast then gathered in the classroom. Our instructor, Bob Bergeron, is a New Hampshire native from New London. He has held his CDL for many years and at one time thought state employees how to run highway plow trucks. Bob not only possessed real experience, but knew how to pass his knowledge on to us in an interesting manor. Each student regardless of their personal experience learned something n
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Do nothing day ?

12-1-14 Today was going to be a do nothing day. Right! First we brought in the new zero gravity chair then a bit of clean up. Then off to Lazydays to get our daily free lunch. Today was meatball sandwich and pasta. Next we checked out the laundry facility and the pool (very nice, heated and covered). They also have a jacuzzi. During lunch we decided to take care of storage for Gracie and the Burb while we go home for the Holiday's. After a bit of webulating we took a road trip to check out so
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Arrived in Tampa

11-30-14 I didn't have much to write yesterday. A blister the size of a quarter grew on my big toe the night after my many mile march at Daytona. I administered fluid evacuation surgery without anesthesia. Painful but successful. However I needed a day to recover so I nixed another trip to Daytona. Hope the show car judges managed without my input. Today was a moving day. Just a shot trip to Lazydays CG in Tampa. It was a uneventful trip until I was 500 feet away and took the wrong turn. I re
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Daytona Turkey Run

Today was all about me. Ruthie drove me to the speedway and dropped me of at the main entrance after searching over an hour for a parking place closer than Miami. Since she had little interest in looking at rust, the smell of grease, or walking who knows how far Ruth choose to spend the day with Oscar. If you're a car nut, this is the place. But, bring your walking shoes! The entire infield was consumed by vendors, cars of all sorts for sale, and show cars. I walked for 3 hours to get through t
Castle3

Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Cars, beaches, and bad food

11-27-14 I took a day off from writing yesterday as it was my birthday. Thanks for all the good wishes. Now I have lots to say today. We decided the best plan for enjoying the Turkey Run was to spend the afternoon scouting out Daytona. So into the Burb with Oscar and off to the speedway. Very easy to find and only 20 miles from our CG. I knew it was BIG but it looks even larger in person, and they are adding on to it. We drove through the main parking lot and found the entrance so we know whe
Castle3

Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Waterbed! Really?

11-25-14 I spoke a bit too soon yesterday. Last night as I was relaxing watching Fox News, Ruth screams from the bedroom water water. I rushed in to discover the bed had about a 2 foot circle of wet that Ruth found as she was getting in. Soon we discovered the source. No it wasn't Oscar. That was our first guess too. It was coming from the bedroom AC intake. We grabbed a pan and a few towels and I opened the filter access. Fortunately, that did not result in a waterfall. Just a steady drip drip
Castle3

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Melvin's Travels
 

Lovely St. Augustine

11-24-14 In just a week we have gone from electric blankets and furnace heat to just sheets and AC. Today's temp was 79 and a bit humid. Sure glad Joey helped me repair the rear unit this summer. About noon today we went back into St. Augustine. What a lovely city! It's well laid out, clean, and full of things to do and places to see. We took a leisure stroll through the market. Interesting shops and loads of eateries. When we returned to Gracie we took a few minutes to clean things up and th
Castle3

Castle3

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