Working and RVing

 

I drove back from Louisiana on Tuesday afternoon. It was a 4 hour drive and needless to say I was rather bushed by the time I arrived at the lake. Sherri was there with the slides tucked in on all sides and the jacks up it travel mode. We were headed back east to Tyler for a day of work. Our destination was the Tyler # 1 RV Park. We were only staying there one night and then off to work the next day. We told our host there that we would have a late check out due to our work schedule and they were kind enough to let us do it without and additional charge.

We like this park not only because of the good location but we are always treated well by our host. They don’t mind working with us when we have to work in Tyler and end up staying longer and sometimes shorter time than we originally planned. Those of you who work and RV know what I am talking about. It is not always easy to plan when you will be arriving or leaving some places coming from another location.

That night we did have some bad weather move into the area but no hail and no damaging winds to speak of. All was well with our stay there and it did run over till 2:00 and then we were on our way to Gladewater for a two day stay. The trip to Gladewater was short and before we knew it we were pulling in the front gate. I noticed on the electric sign out front in big red letters…”Welcome Pitman Family”. WOW how great is that. We stopped at the office and checked in for the two days. We got sight 40 right across from the office! That is a good site because you are close to the exit and laundry room. Before we lowered the jacks or put out the slides Sherri and I took off for the store to stock up on some groceries for the week. Here we work in the stores all week and then on our day off we go and buy groceries.

By the way I don’t think I showed you our new fridge we bought for the bay. We keep cold drinks in there and some overflow groceries. We are now looking for a freezer to set beside it. This gives us a little extra storage due to the fact we have the smaller fridge inside. It has worked out well so far.

We will be here for two days and then we are heading back to the lake for a few. After the 4th we head out again to work in east Texas. AHHH it wont be long and we will be going better places…

Somewhere in Time

Off to Work and Left Sherri Behind

Woke up this morning with many projects facing me. One of the biggest was putting up the sun shade on the  barn door. You see our door faces west and when the sun is setting in the afternoon it gets real hot in the RV. The windshield multiplies the heat 10 fold and it is all the AC unit can do to keep up with the temps as they rise. I decided to get a sun screen and hang it in the door of the barn so I could open and close it much like a shower curtain. When the sun comes up in the morning we don’t need the sun screen up but when 3:00 o’clock comes around we need something to shield it from the front of the MH.

I went down to Lowes and bought some wire and  turnbuckles to stretch across the top of the barn opening. I have ordered a sun screen out of the Camping World book that I will put grommets in across the top and down each side. On the top grommets I will install shower curtain hooks to ride on the wire and the grommets on each side I will bungee to the metal frame. With the shade hooked to the wire I can open and close it much like a window curtain and then bungee it tight to each side when it is drawn closed. I hope this works for those hot summer months ahead.

I do hope that soon we will not be here in the hot summer so all this will not  be needed then. My Direct TV box is located in the front cabinets over the passenger seat and when that sun beats down on the front windshield it over heats the box and it shuts off. For now I have a fan that I blow on the box to try and keep it cool but maybe the shade will keep me from having to do that?

OK that project is done less the shade which I learned yesterday is on backorder. We have to find some shower curtain hooks also to hang it up when it gets here.

I also bought a Flo-Jet for the dump…but I am thinking about taking it back. I think I can just use my Blueboy to haul off my waste and dump it in my BIL Septic Tank located next door. I noticed on the instructions for the macerator that maximum hose length was 50 foot. I had thought it would pump further than that? If anyone out there knows something I don’t let me know.

Just got word that they only need one person to work Monday so Sherri is going to stay home and catch up on some things she has been putting off for some time. I will pack up and head out Sunday and work two days and then get back home Tuesday night. We will then load up the house and take off for Tyler Texas and work there and then on to Gladewater. WOW traveling is one thing we still do…just not going to places we want to go to.

OK I have a lot to get done before I get on the road so I will sign off here and catch you later….

Somewhere in Time 

Back at Work

Sherri and I both bounced our of bed at the same time. We both were wide awake… and I use that term loosely. We started off real slow but picked up speed as time to leave grew closer. We are headed out to work today much to our dismay but it is what we have to do for now. Sherri had completed the laundry yesterday and packed the the bags. All I had to do this morning was get the house on wheels ready for our absence.

I always undo the water and turn off the HWH. These are precautions I  take to keep things from going south while we are gone. I surely don’t want the RV to flood while we are not there to catch it and no need for hot water if we are out of town.

The yard is mowed the house is secure so we are off for another week of work. I hope we are safe going and coming this week so I can enjoy more time off at our little place on the lake…

Somewhere in Time

Wheelbarrow Makeover and a Repaired Windshield

I did not want to open my eyes this morning because I knew that the sun would be up. That means that I need to get up and start my day. Not that I am lazy but I just did not want to get up now. You know you get in that comfortable position and you just hate to leave it. Well my eyes did open and the sun was up and I got out of bed.

Sherri was already up and she had the coffee made. I poured me a cup and sat down to ease into this day. As I sat there waiting for my computer to load up I heard the thunder. At the same time the rain started coming down and it was so loud on the metal roof. We dodged the hail that they were reporting on the news. I was glad of that…and the rain…WOW we so needed that.

I finished my coffee and ate some blueberry waffles. I walked outside and the cool air was so refreshing. Sherri joined  me on the porch where we sat and talked about what we needed to get done. Tomorrow we head out to work again so we really need to get some things done before we leave. Sherri had to get all the wash done and pack our bags. I had to wait on the glass repairman to show up and fix our windshield. Sherri was out shopping a few days ago when a rock flew up and put a ding in the windshield. Gary did show up and before I knew it the windshield was fixed. Not only did he fix the windshield he cleaned all the windows and offered to vacuum out the inside. I told Gary that I did not need it vacuumed but I sure appreciated his offer.

I pulled the Jeep back into the barn and headed out to my shop to work on refinishing my benches that I got from my son and his wife. They are getting new patio furniture so we got their old benches. These benches will be part of our new look on our patio. After I got some of the  bench sanded I started rebuilding my wheelbarrow. I was going to buy me a new one but when I priced it I decided to just make me some new handles. They turned out real good and now I have a close to new wheelbarrow. I am having to learn to live lean. If I can make it then I do and save those $ for better things down the road.

Sherri has some pork shops cooking and I am going to go eat them. I’ll  be back…

Somewhere in Time

Too Hot to Move

Here we are at the Lake hanging out in the Motorhome under the Motorhome cover…port…barn…or whatever you call these things. It is hot out side and I just can’t get motivated to get up and get started this morning. We have several projects that we want to get done during this lull in our work schedule but it is so hot I just don’t think I can get started out there.

We got up and sat down to drink our coffee and plan out what we wanted to get done and what we would have to pick up at the Home Depot. We did come up with a list of items to work on and I made a list of things to get started.

One of the projects that comes high on our list is a sun shade on the front of the barn that will knock off the afternoon sunshine. Between 4:00 and 7:00 pm the sun sets right in front of the RV and dumps all that heat in our windshield. It is all the AC can do to keep up with the cooling. We have decided to get us a sun shade that will go across the opening of the barn and block the sun off and help keep us cool. We had thought about pulling the RV in front ways but that puts the door on the wrong side which is not acceptable.

The sun shade is on order from Camping World and will not arrive soon enough for me. Until that time we will just have to put up with the extra heat.

Another project is our walk way to the porch from door of the RV. We have put stepping stones in which has helped a lot. We have a gravel drive so the dust was becoming a problem being tracked in. We plan on putting in more steps and then putting river rock around them to trim out the walkway. It should all look good when we get it done. The only thing between starting and finishing is the tremendous hot weather we are having. When it cools down some we will be back at it and hope to finish it up before we get busy again at work.

It is about 7:15 and my stomach is telling me it is time to eat. Sherri and I are looking for some food so I will check out here and join back up with you…

Somewhere in Time

Time off

This morning I woke up to the alarm once more. We have this last day of work and then we are off. We found out that we are not working but two days next week so we have almost a week off with no work. I am just broken hearted about that. We are planning on doing nothing for the most part. We are going to pack the RV up and return to the lake. We have a lot to do there and we want to get it done while we have the time to do it.

We had our breakfast and then took off for work. The day went fast and before we knew it we were back at the RV getting things ready for our morning departure. We told the camp host that we would be leaving early and they told us that we could have some passes for return nights in the future. I thought that was real nice of them to do that and we will for sure use them. We love this park and will return here often.

That is about it for this day. Tomorrow we head back to Texas and our little hid-a-way. I know I will have to mow the yard…UGH! We will have some down time that we can kick back and relax for a while…

Somewhere in Time

To Answer Many Questions

Up this morning after a good night sleep. Last night I chatted with several of my friends…Dee…John Brown…Deb…and Molly. It was so nice getting back in touch with all them. We chatted for some time and then I just had to turn in. I did get to bed early enough to get plenty of sleep so I am ready for the day to begin. We have to work 4 days this week to make up for a shortfall in help. We have several people out working other stores…leaving us short here on the store set. We have many categories to set and with fewer people we get behind.

We had a great day and all went well.

I have had many folks ask me how I like the Motorhome compared to my 5th wheel. I had to stop and think this one out because I have never really compared the two since I got the MH. We have had all kinds of campers and believe me we have enjoyed them all. I have always said, “It is not what you go in that makes you happy…It is the fact that you go”. So that being said I had to ponder the question how does it compare.

1. The Motorhome is easier to drive and when you get to the park it is easier to back in if you have to. 

2. Setting up…Well you still have to hook up the same things…but leveling the Motorhome has that one beat.

3. Unhooking and Hooking up… We have the towed so we still have some of that to do.

4. We find it easier to stay in a parking lot or Road Side park when in the MH because you don’t really have to get out and make your presence known. We can stay without putting out the slides or setting the jacks.

5. Traveling down the road we don’t have to stop for the potty…or Sherri doesn’t.

6. I have in flight meals served to me by my stewardess. A fill up on Coke or water when needed.

7. Sherri can do some of the driving which is a real help to me.

These are just a few of the things I compare to the 5th wheel. Don’t get me wrong we loved our Carriage and we both could not figure out why we traded it in other than Sherri could drive the MH and she could not drive the 5th wheel. I feel more comfortable driving the MH. We love it and will keep it for a long time. I just would like to  be able to go to where I want to go and enjoy it. I know that will come…

Somewhere in Time

Back to the Old Grind

Sherri walking around the lake….way ahead of me…I was trying to take pictures.

\This morning I heard the alarm go off and it scared me! I have not had to get up this early in some time and I was not really set on getting up this time. Having said all that I got up and stumbled to the bathroom and took a cold shower. I could not figure out how to get the hot water to come on…you know these one handle faucets they have now days. Well I guess a cold shower is what I needed and that is what I got.

Sherri was up next and in the shower. She had hot water because she knows how to work the darn thing. I was awake for sure by now and that was what I had set out to do.

Then it was time to head down stairs and grab some breakfast. There were several folks in the dinning area fixing their food and I had to wait for a short bit to get my biscuit and egg. It sure was good once I got it heated up. Had a little milk and I was ready to go to work.

We arrived on time for work and had a good day. We finished up about 4:30 and before we left the store plans were made on where we would meet for dinner. We decided on the Log Cabin down the highway from there. We all met there about 30 minutes later and had a good time visiting and eating some good food. This would be a typical day in the life of a working couple striving to make ends meet in this flat economy? I laugh every time I hear our reps up there in DC tell us that everything is great! That should tell you that they are not in the least bit connected  to what we all go through day after day. I say we just keep on electing those morons and keep them off the street.

OK this day is about done. I am in my Hotel room now typing out this entry. I hope that the rest of this weeks goes as good as this first day and before I know it I will be setting around that lake…

Somewhere in Time  

Another Day of Doing Nothing

I am not sure what woke me up but my eyes came open and I was trying to see if there was any light coming in around the shades. This is how I know if it is morning. Out here in the woods we have no street lights and when the sun goes down it is D A R K. If there is any light at all coming in around the shades then it is almost sun up. I did not seen any signs of light so I knew it was early. I got up anyway and stumbled into the kitchen to make our coffee. Got the coffee going and by the time I got the cups out and all the fixens to go with it I noticed a hint of light coming through the pines. It was time to get up. Sherri must have heard me banging around so she too got out of bed and came in to have  coffee.

We sat outside for about an hour sipping coffee and making plans for our trip to Kansas next August. The two grand boys in Kansas City have birthdays…same day…no they are not twins. I guess my son has a knack for planning? Anyway we will be traveling to Kansas City for their birthday celebration. We will be taking their cousins…Kris Sarah and Franki along with us to help celebrate.

Planning a trip up there is not hard but finding a campground in that area is impossible! They live South of Bonner Springs and the only campground in that area is Cottonwood RV Park. It is a campground that the NASCAR group uses when the races are going on in Kansas City. Not much to look at but it is only 6 miles from the kids house and we wont have to drive far. There are campgrounds in that area but they are 30 to 40 miles away and we do not want to drive that far everyday to see the kids.

Oh well we planned our route up there and found some places to stop and stay on the way up and some different ones for the return trip. We are excited about getting to see the family and spend some time with them in their beautiful home. We don’t get to see the boys but maybe once a year and then it is only for a day or two. Having to work keeps us from spending more time up there and planning more than one trip a year. We both know that this work thing will soon be coming to an end and things will change.

We spent the rest of the morning inside looking at campgrounds and reading journals. We did get out for lunch and found a great Mexican Restaurant called La Jurita… spelling may not be right but close…food was excellent. We then made a trip to Wally World and bought nothing!!! Now that is something. Back to the lake and back into the AC. It was so hot out today…you could not enjoy the outside at all. I laid down and took a nap and before I knew…it was time to get up and meet some friends of ours for dinner. No that is not all that I do. I do other things beside eat and sleep…when I am not eating and sleeping.

By the way I did not get the boat out yesterday. It was so hot for so long and I just could not muster the strength to pull it out and put it in the water. I might get it together next week end…we will see…

Somewhere in Time  

Somebody has to do it

I laid there for the longest wondering what time it was. You know the older you get the more you wake up during the night thinking it is time to get up and then find out it is 2:00am. Well this morning it was not 2:00 am but 6:30 am so I reluctantly got up and went in to the kitchen to make me some coffee. Sherri was a little slow in following me but soon I heard her rustling around in the bedroom. She appeared right when I poured her cup and we both proceeded outside to sit and admire the view.

While sitting out back we noticed an increase in activity around the lake. It is Saturday so we figured it was just the weekend crowd showed up. Then we noticed groups of runners coming around the bend down by the lake. I am guessing that a school track team was in the park working out. Young kids spending their Saturday running around a lake? No it had to be a sports group. I remember my Saturdays when school was out…Spent lots of time at the lake…I was running around but not for the same reason.

OK so we watched the kids get in shape while we sipped coffee and talked about how we should be down there walking and getting in shape. I am in shape…even if it is bad shape I am in shape. Shape as in FROG shape…you know skinny legs and a large upper torso. I will have to work on that later.

Today is going to be spent indoors until the heat goes away. Yesterday the heat about did me in. I did some chores outside and the humidity took all my strength away. I have decided to take it easy until 7:00 pm and then I will venture back outside to finish up some chores I started this am. I will have to tell Mark Hall that I got the tags off all my awnings. He had pointed that out to me several weeks ago when he came to see us at the lake. I just have not had the time to do much to the Motorhome having to work on all the building projects that Sherri had lined out for me. I have most all of them done so I will have more time to spend on fixing up the house on wheels.

I had thought about getting my boat out and spending some time out on the lake paddling around. Being that it is soooo hot I just could not bring myself to get the thing out and put it in the water. How lazy is that? I should be ashamed but this heat and humidity is unbearable! It does not take much to make me sweat when the humidity is up this high. Maybe I will wait until this afternoon and get it out and make a few rounds on the lake…

Somewhere in Time

 

What a Wonderful Weekend

Sherri and I woke up this morning…late for us. We normally get up around 5:00 am and head down to the lobby of the Hotel around 6:00 am to eat breakfast. This happens about 3 to 4 days a week and then we have a long weekend to work at the lake or like this weekend do nothing for 4 days! Now we really like weekends like this one and hope that we have more of them in our future for the next 18 months.

Sherri got out of bed and headed to get dressed and I went to the kitchen to make coffee. While at the kitchen sink I looked out the window and could see the lake and the pines reflecting in it. No wind was blowing and the lake was like a mirror! I could not wait to go outside. Sherri was dressed and the coffee was made and we went to sit at the back of the Motorhome which was facing the lake. We sat there for some time and watched the squirrels and the birds and many folks walking on the path that followed the shoreline all the way around the lake. How peaceful…I would love to spend more time doing this.

We finished two cups of coffee and then decided it was time to get some chores done inside. It did not take long to do them and soon we were sitting at the computers reading about some of our friends and where they are and what they were up to. I don’t mind reading about folks having fun traveling if I am doing the same so today I am pleased with all that is going on in the journals I am reading. I know that next week I have to return to the old grind but then having our house with us and being able to come home to it and being parked next to a beautiful lake as we are makes working so much easier to do.

Later in the day we decided to walk around the lake and see what all we could see. It is such a beautiful place and the scenery is so easy on the eyes. There is a concrete sidewalk all the way around the shoreline of the lake. We just went down the hill to the walkway and headed on our adventure walk. It was about 6:00 pm when we started out…the sun was down far enough not to make us too hot. Not much breeze was blowing but as we walked briskly along we created our own breeze which was really nice. I am not sure how far it is around the lake but the time past fast and before we knew it we were back at our campsite.

This is our campsite from across the lake

Looking back toward the swimming area

Sherri took the lead

This is the swimming area with a sandy beach

This is the boat launch…maybe I will use this tomorrow

We got back to the Motorhome and made some pork chops outside. They sure were good…Sherri put some special sauce on them she got back when we all went to the spice shop last Thanksgiving. Needless to say I ate all of my share and can’t wait for our next outside feast…

Somewhere in Time

All is Well With Writer

AHHHH…It worked. I have got to catch up now on all that I have been doing since I have been away from the keyboard. I miss typing out my journal everyday…and having to gather my thoughts and write about things that happened a week ago…I can hardly remember yesterday much less a week ago.

Sherri and I have been busy not only working our job but we have been making improvements to our home base at the lake. We put a deck on the barn…built an RV port…put a fence up and then a porch was built under the RV Port. This porch will soon be screened in but we have to get the money for that addition. We will be putting in a rock walkway and many other improvements while we have a job to pay for them.

We have been busy for the last two weeks traveling all over. Last week we traveled to Louisiana and took the Motorhome. We found a real nice park just outside of Ruston LA that is located on a small lake. We backed up to it and are really enjoying the view. We will be here for two weeks and then we move on further East where we will be for two more weeks. Our travels will then take us North from there into Arkansas. We are not sure but we might be there for a month. I guess we will survive being on the road that long. We are practicing to see how we will do when we really get to go where we want to. 

Well it is so good to be back on the journal again. I hope that you follow along while we travel from job to job…

Somewhere in Time

I Have Writer Back

Alas! I have retrieved Writer from the WEB and I can download much faster and I don’t have to worry about using Blogger again! It has been over 2 months since I lost it and now that I have it back I feel like writing again. I had lost it when I caught a bug a while back and I rebooted and reloaded all my software but Writer was not in the batch I downloaded. SOOOO I tried to reload it from the WEB and found out that I was now lacking some Windows updates and it would not load. I worked for the last month downloading and messing around with it until I finally got the right stuff loaded and here I am back in business.

OK I don’t want to get too cocky here. I need to down load this post and see what kind of trouble I might have doing it. This is the new version and I have not ever used it so it might not work at all.

I am cutting this post off here just so I can check it out. If it does not come out right on my blog page I will have to work on it…and if that is the case then I will be back….

 

This is just a test picture to see how it comes out.

Somewhere in Time