12/19/2018. My new favorite Beach Campground.  Gulf Shores, Alabama

In the past two weeks we have stopped at Gulf Shores, Alabama and Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, Florida.

Years ago, my youngest daughter and I took a Father/Daughter trip to Henderson Beach State Park (maybe 20 years ago).  It was the prettiest Beach and Campground I had ever seen.  We had a great time.  

Shifting to my most recent trip I am disappointed.  The Beach is still beautiful and you can still walk from your camper to the Beach, but besides the State Park it is completely built up with Condo’s.  The traffic is crazy and the roads are being modified to handle more volume.  I don’t think I will be back.

On the other hand Sandy and I stopped at Gulf Shores, Alabama.  My new favorite.  Although the Campground is across a 4 lane road from the beach, you can get there by bike or car.  The campground has level/paved sites with full hook-up.  The state park has many paved/biking hiking trails.  You can bike to the beach or the local McDonald’s for lunch.  There are many snowbirds at the campground from Canada, Wisconsin, Michigan, and some from Ohio.  Pictures attached.

12/11/2018. The Irish Jig in the middle of traffic on the Atlanta Georgia Bypass

Today Sandy and I were taking the loop around Atlanta via the Bypass on our way to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

As we made the loop in fairly heavy traffic Sandy got up to grab something in the back as I was passing the Rt 285 exit on my way to Rt 85 S.

When she came back to her seat a huge bug (Sandy says the size of her hand) was sitting on her armrest looking up at her as if to say “This is my seat, get your own”.  My interpretation :-)

Out of the corner of my eye (again while I’m driving the COW in fairly heavy traffic) I see her start to do a dance while saying “Gross”.  “Gag Me”.  

Picture added 12/19/2018

I am sure the bug was also very amused.

She then leaped back into the coach to grab a paper towel to kill the bug!

Now keep in mind I am doing 65 MPH, driving the COW around Atlanta at Noon and I am not sure if I should be Laughing, Video Taping (this has to be worth $100,000 on America’s Funniest Home Video), or concerned.

Needless to say the bug did not stand a chance :-).  

Sandy’s last statement to me as she sat back down in the seat was that I had to carry the carcass out in the trash at our next stop

R.I.P the big bug the size of Sandy’s hand.  He once thought he had control of the Passenger seat and Now he lies in wait in the Trash Can only to be disposed of at the next Rest Stop.

12/10/2018. Running from the cold and visit to Ninety Six, SC

We exited Gaffney, SC with snow snapping at our heals.  We landed for the next couple of days in Ninety Six, SC, just below the snow line.  Brrr, it has been cold in the 30’s and rainy.  

Wow, it didn’t take long for this Northerner to get soft.  Last year I would have been washing cars in the mid-40s.  Nope, not this year.

We had the opportunity to catch up with some past neighbors from Cleveland, Mark and Mary Ellen Valaitis.  Our kids grew up together and we shared some good times together.  They lived next door to us many years ago before they moved onto Columbus, OH, New York City, and now retired to Ninety Six, SC.  I have never heard of a city with numbers for its name.  Mary Ellen explained that the name derived from being 96 miles for the Indians to travel from another village to Ninety Six.  We had a great time catching up with each other.  It was just like we skipped right over the years of separation and started talking like we were neighbors again.

They were nice enough to cook us an amazing meal, and take us to a local community theater.  What fun we had together.  

I must admit that although I was skeptical about a city with a name consisting of numbers, I will be back.  What a great place.  Mark and Mary Ellen have built a beautiful home on Lake Greenwood.  Ninety Six, SC is definitely a hidden gem.  

Mark and Mary Ellen are great hosts and tour guides.  We truly enjoyed our visit.

Thanks Again to Mark and MaryEllen for the hospitality!!!  

12/7/2018:  Camp Freightliner 2.  Working with a Technician on my coach

Freightliner offers customers the opportunity to drive your coach into their factory service shop and work with a technician for $100.  Well it was well worth the expense. After all, I have worked on Gasoline Engines, but a Diesel is a different animal.  To work with a technician that knows what they are doing and learn what is involved is a great experience.  We worked together from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM (lunch was included).  Although I was not able to pickup a tool, I was allowed to ask questions (& I took full advantage of this opportunity), take pictures, and keep notes for future reference.

During the time we did:

• Two factory torque recalls
• Fuel/Water Separator filter
• Fuel filter
• Air Filter
• Fixed a bent tire valve
• Torqued all chasis bolts to proper specs.  I was surprised at how many need retorqued
• Greased 12 fittings on the front and 3 fittings on the back
• Adjusted the Air Bag ride height.  I didn’t know there was such a thing
• Weighed all 4 corners of the coach and calculated the best air pressure for the tires (120 Lb in the front tires, 150 Lb in the rear tires)
• Changed Engine Oil (24 quarts)
• Changed Front Axle Oil. (Who new the front axle had oil instead of grease??)
• Adjusted the steering wheel by 9 degrees so it actually is straight while going down the road.
• Changed Generator Oil
• Changed Generator Filter
• Realigned rear mud-flap.

A couple of strange things that are different about Diesels

• The Air Filter is approximately 2’ in diameter by 3’ long and contained in a metal barrel.  You do not just replace the paper filter.
• The engine takes 6 gallons of oil
• When you take the Fuel/Water separator off, Diesel fuel continues to flow out of the filter opening.  It is lower that the Diesel fuel tank so the fuel drains from the tank until you screw on the replacement filter.  The technicians tie a rag around their wrist while reinserting the replacement filter to keep the Diesel fuel from rolling down their arm.
• Before reinstalling the Fuel and Fuel/Water separator filters you have to saturate them with diesel fuel so as to not create an air bubble in the fuel line.
• The Oil filter is about the same diameter as a similar filter that we would install on a gasoline engine, but the Diesel oil filter is approximately 12” to 15” long.
• The Oil filter also has to be filled with oil before installation
• The Diesel also has an Air Dryer Filter for the Air Brakes.

12/1/2018. Swamp Tour

The other day Sandy and I took a Swamp Tour outside of New Orleans.  We were is an aluminum boat that sat low in the water with a 150 HP outboard engine.  Our group consisted on 8 - 10 guests and a guide.  During the tour the guide worked our way in and around the swamp, low hanging trees, and murky water.  During the trip we got within 5’ of an alligator, and way to close to some wild pigs and wild raccoons.  Our guide fed them hot-dogs off of a stick the size of a marsh-mallow roasting stick.  The pigs and raccoons were so close that I expected them to be sitting next to me with one lunge.  

We also saw an Osprey (bird in the tree), a bunch of sliding turtles (these turtles are the same as sold at pet stores), and a gray snake (non-poisonous).

Attached are some pictures.  Based on the pictures you can make up your own mind on what is to close :-).

PS. The more I learn about these wild pigs, the more I think it should be open hunting season year around on these animals.  The females can have two to three litters annually.  Each litter is 8 to 12 piglets.  They are mean.  I’ve met two camp hosts here who both have been chased back into their trailers this season by attacking pigs.  They eat everything and anything.  They come out a dusk.  The males have tusk.  They are much quicker and agile than I expected.