4/14/2019 Modern Things that we miss

After 5 1/2 months on the road we are home to regroup, get the COW serviced, and see our Doctors for annual visits.

This time we jotted down some of the things we noticed upon our return.  To our surprise we came to realize:

• We missed our Garbage Disposal.  What a convenience to have :-)
• Silverware for 12?  Why so many.
• A shower that sprays water over an your entire body?  Who would have thought we would miss such a thing :-)
• A Toilet that we don’t have to flush with my foot.
• We can use the toilet and it actually goes directly into the sewer.  What a convenience.  I don’t have to fiddle with dumping the black water tank later.  Oh I am in 7th heaven!!
• Multi-burner gas stove.  How does it work again?
• Queen size bed.  The two of us used to fit on a Queen.  Did we get that much bigger on our trip?  Our COW has a king size bed which initially we thought was HUGE when we first started to use it.  Now is it our new norm!  MOVE OVER!!
• A  dishwasher where we can hide our dinner plates in between meals.  
• Last but not least. My Lazy Boy chair that I have in the house (that Sandy hates) is just so-so comfortable.  

Oh to be home again.  

4/5/2019. The Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail

Today Sandy and I hiked up to Springer Mountain after a 6 mile drive with the Equinox (our toad) up an unpaved logging road to find the parking lot for the trailhead.  We found the trail to be rocky, full of tree roots, and up hill :-).

At the top (Southern Terminus) of Springer Mountain there is a drawer that slides out from under a rock which contains a notebook where those that are hiking the trail sign in and make a note of their upcoming adventure.  During our little journey we met 3 ladies and 1 guy who were all beginning their thru hike to Maine by themselves.  Eventually they may meet each other and become what is known as Tramily (Trail Family).  This made us feel a little more comfortable as our daughter Andrea is about to start the same adventure on 4/15/2019.  Attached are pictures of our adventure.

PS. Don’t forget to take a look at the Rock Monster that grabbed Sandy’s leg during our hike :-).  My wife’s (and by the way my daughters also) sense of humor.

4/7/2019. Rest Stop Boondocking

Tonight we are staying in the Kentucky Welcome Center on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky.  We exited Sawanee State Park around noon today and started heading North back to Ohio.  Well with Thunderstorms in front of us and nightfall coming soon we decided to stop for the night.  Boondocking in a rest stop is not my favorite thing to do but it is cheap, allows us not to have to unhook the toad, relatively safe as other campers also pull in along side of us, and it will allow us to get a quick and easy start towards Columbus, Ohio tomorrow which is our next stop.  Of course we are completely self contained with Generator, Fresh Water for showers, toilet, cooking facilities and other amenities.

4/1/2019 Creepy Critters of Florida

Ft Myers: Cypress Trails RV Resort

Black Racer Snake - Around dusk we decided to head out for a Tandem Bike Ride.  Upon returning to or site at Cypress Trails RV resort we discovered an 18” snake on our driveway.  I asked Sandy to grab the flashlight.  By the time she opened the door to get the flashlight, the snake turned and high-tailed it out of there.  I mean “High-tailed” as it was the fastest snake that I have ever seen.  I guess that is why it is called a “Racer”.  

Black Ants - While at Cypress Trails I noticed two type of Ants.  Medium sized black Ants and barely noticeable sugar Ants.  They seemed to be staying away from the COW, but every so often I would spray for them, just in case as a preventive measure.  WELL, on our last day I went to unhook my power cord and store it in the Electric bay when I stumbled across a whole colony of them living inside my electric bay underneath the extra coiled up electric cord.  Thank Goodness this bay is isolated and I appear to have gotten all of them with the Ant and Roach spray I brought with me.  Had to hose down the bay after to clean it all out.  Time will tell if I got them all.  So far, so good.

Orlando:  Lake Louisa State Park

Rat Snake - As Sandy and I were exploring the park, we came across a 4’ wide walkway at the Beach.  As we are walking across the walkway, out of the corner of my eye I noticed something slithering along in the same direction as us.  It didn’t seemed bothered by us and was weaving in & out of the rail posts.  SO, I grabbed my camera and took some pictures.  Turns out it was a 3’ Rat Snake.  I showed my picture to one of the local Rangers and she advised that they grow anywhere from 36” to 72”.  

Palmetto Bug/Or Maybe Something Else Entirely - You call it whatever you want.  I call it a slimy, ugly, very quick bug.  Last night, I was sitting down to read/watch TV/check Facebook etc... etc... when Sandy let out a “scream” while working on our taxes.  Bill-Bill -Bill, Get it, Get it, Get it.  Eww, Eww, Eww,  What was that?  It was black, very fast.  Up and out of our seats we both were chasing it.  It ran back to the bedroom.  We cornered it.  I grabbed my tennis shoe and gave it a smack only for it to take-off once again.  Didn’t even phase it.  No where to be found.  Well Sandy explained that maybe it won’t come out again if we sleep with the lights on.  In the back of my mind I am thinking “You have got to be kidding”. We (I mean she) probably scarred the crap out of it and it ran directly to the next guys RV.  Needless to say we each slept with a flashlight and I had my Ant/Roach spray cocked and just off to my right if it showed up again that night.  

Well when it comes to huge bugs there is no limit to the budget.  I went to the nearest Lowes the next morning and bought all the latest including a bug “BOMB”.  I can’t help but wonder if I need a concealed carry permit for all this stuff.  When I returned to the RV with all my ammo, Sandy didn’t say a word :-).  Now I am not sure if it came from Lake Louisa or Cypress Trail, but it had better move along and stay in Florida while it can.  Regardless of when it entered, we won’t be staying at the place it showed up ever again, according to Sandy.

We are onto Georgia tomorrow.

Update:  Now that we are in Ohio, the RV has been stripped and no big bug to be found.  Must have left the way it entered.

3/31/2019. Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont FL(just outside of Orlando)

Yesterday while exploring we saw a 3’ rat snake slithering along the same raised walkway that we were on.

This morning I was up and out of the COW around 8:00 AM.  I was sitting just outside the RV when I noticed an Eagle being chased by some smaller birds. 

I stopped at the Ranger Station and inquired as to what other wildlife I may see in the park.  She explained that they have Wild Boars, Cougars (Mountain Lions), Bobcats, many types of Snake.

Late this evening (after dark) as we drove back to the campground from the entrance into the park with Chuck and Georgine Krummick (after an irish dinner) Chuck’s car lights illuminated two large owls (appx 2’ tall) in the middle campground road.  They refused to move until the car came within a couple feet of them.