Summer Vacation, 2019

ClydesdaleKevin · August 25, 2019, 11:13 PM

So now begins another chapter.

We are on vacation until the end of September...thus the summer vacation title. Close enough!

We are currently at an RV park directly and literally across the street from my wife's son's house...to visit him, his wife, and her grandkids. Awesome people!

The driveway for the RV park is literally right across the street from their driveway.

It used to be called Toye Recreation. It is now called Woodland Trails campground.

The pups loved jumping in the water today, and it is awesome to visit Patti's kin without being an imposition.

We'll be here for about a week...and then we are going to Virginia Beach to visit my daughter and three grandsons...the youngest of which I haven't even met yet.

It should be a great month off from Renfaires!

Kev

c farmer · August 26, 2019, 10:02 PM

Watching your journey.

ClydesdaleKevin · August 26, 2019, 11:14 PM

Quote from: c farmer on August 26, 2019, 10:02 PM
Watching your journey.

Thanks! And if you are watching and notice that we are near you...either on vacation or at a Renfaire, let us know! We can have coffee if on vacation, or we can usually get a few free tickets if we are working at a Faire. This applies to ALL CWVRV members.

Kev

c farmer · August 27, 2019, 09:41 PM

Woodland that your talking about is in Jersey, I have a woodland here about 30 miles from here

ClydesdaleKevin · August 28, 2019, 11:02 AM

We are having a great and relaxing visit with my wife's son and family, and they sure did clean up this RV park since we were here last! Wow!

We also found a local blinds/curtain shop that is replacing the strings on our rear blinds in the bedroom, since they were wearing out. 35 bucks for the pair, so not bad! They should be ready any day now

I'm also going to look for a local glass shop that can make a hinged tempered smoked glass door for the opening where the big CRT television lives over the cockpit in the front, since we don't use it and it is heavy. That way we could get rid of the TV up front, and use that cabinet for linen storage. Depending on what we get quoted for a turn around time, that project may have to wait until we arrive in NC. We'll see!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · August 28, 2019, 12:50 PM

We dropped off the two bedroom shades at a local shade repair shop to have them restrung...35 bucks for the pair, so not bad! We got that out of the way, since they said they could have it ready before we leave.

I also took out the CRT TV from over the cockpit...and when we get to North Carolina, we'll be having a local glass shop make a hinged smoked tempered glass door from the opening where the TV was...which will then be the cabinet for spare linens. I would have it done here, but the local shops said it would take about three weeks...which we don't have, as we are leaving on Monday.
And today I'll be replacing two screens that the doggos tore (well...they tore one...the other one in the bedroom I put a hole in on purpose, to run the coax cable for the Dish satellite receiver out the window, since for whatever reason the one already installed doesn't work/isn't properly connected to the coax port in the cabinet behind the television in the bedroom...although that port works fine with the Winegard antenna on the roof). I ordered a coax door for the outside of the RV...so I won't have to run the coax cable for the Dish Tailgator out the window anymore. I figured this would be the time to repair the screens and add the coax door, since we can't see the southern sky from this campground and can't get satellite TV for now anyway. 6 bucks on Amazon Prime, and will be delivered here on Friday. Sweet!
Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · August 31, 2019, 09:08 AM

The local shop did an amazing job repairing the bedroom shades...which I installed and adjusted yesterday. They work like new again! Sweet!

The little coax port I bought on Amazon also arrived yesterday, so I'll be installing that sometime today.

There was a mix-up with our reservations at this RV park, as they came over last night to our camp and thought we were leaving yesterday. Patti made the reservations through the holiday weekend, so hopefully we can stay until Tuesday morning!

And then our next door neighbors that just arrived at their campsite STOLE the picnic table out of our campsite! It was sitting BETWEEN our Jeep and our RV, so it wasn't a mistake of "oh, they aren't using it" or "maybe it was supposed to be in OUR camp." Nope...they just took it without even asking. When we go to the office this morning to straighten out the reservation confusion and pay the extra days until Tuesday, we are going to mention it to the office. Etiquette people!!!

Kev

Rickf1985 · August 31, 2019, 03:55 PM

Is it possible the office told them they could take it since they thought you were leaving? I take it they are short on tables?

ClydesdaleKevin · September 01, 2019, 10:48 AM

Quote from: Rickf1985 on August 31, 2019, 03:55 PM
Is it possible the office told them they could take it since they thought you were leaving? I take it they are short on tables?

The office said they didn't tell them to take it. But the lady in the office is pulling her hair out this weekend! Over 200 Jewish folk are here for the weekend, celebrating what they call a "Shabbos Party." They obviously aren't used to being in an RV park or campground, since the office is being flooded with complaints about them walking through their campsites, looking in their windows, and messing with their belongings. They set up a tent city that looks like downtown Los Angeles...lol! Thankfully they are leaving today. They also set up a huge pavilion tent and there have been LOUD live bands day and night since Friday afternoon. Loud music was blasting until 3am last night.

On the bright side, the office was very apologetic, and aren't going to charge us for the extra three days when we leave Tuesday morning. :-D

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 01, 2019, 10:51 AM

The new coax port is installed! Woohoo!!!

Today is going to be another lazy day...and tomorrow we are going to the New York Renaissance Festival as patrons! We aren't going to dress up in costume though. We are mostly going to see old friends we haven't seen in years.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 04, 2019, 10:47 AM

After getting lost on back roads in south New Jersey yesterday (it has changed so much in the last 20 years my wife just couldn't remember how to get onto I-95 to avoid the Turnpike or Parkway to avoid as many tolls as possible), we ended up finally finding the Parkway, paid a bunch of tolls, and finally ended up on I-95 much later than we had planned.

While driving through those hilly back roads with stop lights every 100 feet, the brakes faded out! Yikes! They came back, but it was scary!

We pulled into the nearest service stop, and the rear wheels (rims and hubs) on both sides were HOT!!!

Now the brakes are working just fine. I have no idea, but I'm going to guess that since the front calipers are new and the rears are original, maybe the rear pads are worn down enough that the pistons got stuck. When I get to my daughter's house in a couple of days, I'm going to pull the rear wheels and inspect the pads and calipers. If I need to replace the pads, I'll use a big C clamp to push the pistons back in on the calipers and inspect them closely to make sure there isn't a ring of rust on them like the Jeep had, which required me to replace the calipers on the Jeep. There is only around 60K miles on this rig...but it is a 1995. I hope I don't have to replace the calipers though...they are HUGE!...and since it is an Oshkosh/Freightliner chassis, I am sure that they would be EXPENSIVE to replace!

We made it all the way to the Flying J in Elkton, MD with no further brake issues, and when we arrived, I checked the rear rims and hubs, and they were no warmer than the front...not HOT like when we pulled into that service stop.

I don't know if ALL of Maryland smells this way, but Elkton smells EXACTLY like a stairwell in a parking garage in a major city, where all the homeless people go to pee. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Today's destination is a relatively short journey...to the Flying J in Ruther Glen, VA, around 180 miles. We are going to stay the night there and then see what the weather forecast is for the following day. My daughter lives in Suffolk, VA, right near Norfolk and Virginia Beach...and so far, Hurricane Dorian looks like it is going to hit that area tomorrow as a Cat 1. If the hurricane is past, we'll head right there tomorrow. If not? We'll stay another night at the Flying J (or an RV park if it is too hot out, as our genny still needs a control board, so we can't run the AC without shore power). Then we'll drive the last 115 miles to my daughter's driveway to visit for a week.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 04, 2019, 06:48 PM

Safe touchdown at the Flying J in Ruther Glen, VA for the night! There are actually TWO Flying Js off this one exit...which is weird. We went to the one that had the Denny's and the RV parking spots, so we don't have to sit in between the idling semi trucks all night.

WOW was it hot again today! 90 degrees as I type this, but at least there is a breeze, unlike yesterday. I filled the fresh water when we filled the diesel tank...and after parking the rig, I took a nice cold shower to cool off. I'm still sweating, but at least it is clean sweat.

It is supposed to be much cooler here and less humid tomorrow...which is great if we have to stay overnight again waiting out Hurricane Dorian if it lingers tomorrow around Virginia Beach.

We are only about a hundred miles or so inland from where my daughter lives in Virginia Beach...but I'm not about to go there in the middle of a Cat 1 hurricane...lol!

Also...Virginia and Maryland drivers are literally the WORST drivers I have ever seen. Utterly incompetent morons. Just sayin'.

Kev

Froggy1936 · September 04, 2019, 08:57 PM

Hi Kev. Just a heads up, I stayed at a R/V Park in Virginia Beach Very nice place Except, For the Navy Jets Flying right overhead All day Extremely Noisy ! Till 11:00 PM Frank

ClydesdaleKevin · September 04, 2019, 09:44 PM

Quote from: Froggy1936 on September 04, 2019, 08:57 PM
Hi Kev. Just a heads up, I stayed at a R/V Park in Virginia Beach Very nice place Except, For the Navy Jets Flying right overhead All day Extremely Noisy ! Till 11:00 PM Frank

LOL Frank! Many years ago, as just a lowly 3rd Class PO living in VA Beach, every once in a while a jet would break the sound barrier over our apartment. They consider that a big deal, and on the rare occasions it happens, it ends up all over the local news and the pilot is reprimanded.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 05, 2019, 11:23 AM

So it looks like Hurricane Dorian picked up speed and is now a Cat 3 again...and it looks like it is going to SLAM into the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area tonight and all day tomorrow. So yeah...we are going to stay inland until Saturday morning. We found an RV park 17 miles away, made reservations, and will be heading over there shortly to stay for a couple of days. We considered just staying at the Flying J...but it is hot and humid and the generator is currently in need of a control board. So RV park and air conditioning it is!

Kev

Elandan2 · September 05, 2019, 07:24 PM

Stay safe and batten down the hatches!!

ClydesdaleKevin · September 05, 2019, 08:05 PM

Quote from: Elandan2 on September 05, 2019, 07:24 PM
Stay safe and batten down the hatches!!

We'll be fine here...lol! We are about 100 miles inland from Virginia Beach. We are staying at this RV park for 2 nights and will arrive at my daughter's house on Saturday...well after the storm passes.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 05, 2019, 08:10 PM

It sure did feel GREAT to strap on my Walther PPKs after spending the last couple of months in the Northeast! New York, New Jersey, and Maryland do NOT reciprocate my Arizona conceal carry permit. Virginia does!

It isn't easy locking my sidearm up when traveling to these anti-Constitutional states. But business and family...and these anti-2nd Amendment laws make it necessary.

I'm so used to carrying my sidearm (for like the last 30 years), that NOT carrying feels like forgetting to put on socks...or getting a wedgie...lol!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 05, 2019, 08:19 PM

So we are safe and sound at an RV park for two nights, just north of Richmond, VA. What a posh RV park! They even come by and collect your garbage every day from your campsite...lol!

Kev

c farmer · September 16, 2019, 07:59 PM

Nice looking side arms. I have a cc permit for Pa.

ClydesdaleKevin · September 17, 2019, 09:16 AM

Quote from: c farmer on September 16, 2019, 07:59 PM
Nice looking side arms. I have a cc permit for Pa.

Thanks! Patti ordered me a custom pancake holster for the Super Redhawk for my birthday, along with a 3 pouch speedloader carrier from the same custom holster shop. It should be ready sometime in October. SWEET!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 17, 2019, 09:24 AM

I've been remiss in my updating this post...but we are having a great time visiting my daughter and my three wonderful grandsons!

So far we've taken them to the Virginia Children's Museum, and a gun show! I bought my oldest 10 year old a slingshot and a throwing star...and if he can follow the rules and not get in trouble with them, then next year I'll be buying him a BB gun.

We'll be here until this coming Sunday morning...and then we'll be on our way to the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, NC.

I got a few projects done on the RV and have a couple more little projects to do before we leave.

Our Tailgater satellite dish (or the old Dish receiver) gave up the ghost, so we upgraded to the Dish Carry Out antenna with a roof mount, which came with a new receiver. Now I won't have to keep climbing up on the roof to set up the satellite for Patti. Sweet!

There is a trim piece under the entry door coming loose, so I have to pick up some next-size-up stainless screws to secure it back in place. And I have to install a new starting battery in the RV...it is turning the starter so slowly that it takes too long to start the diesel engine up now. The battery in this rig is 7 years old, so time for a replacement!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 21, 2019, 09:06 AM

Today is our last day visiting my daughter and grandsons in Suffolk, VA...so we are taking them to an air show in Virginia Beach!

Then tomorrow we hit the road and meander our way down to Huntersville, NC for our last Renaissance Faire of the season.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 21, 2019, 05:58 PM

The air show was fun...but pretty lame. The food was VERY expensive...and they hardly had any planes flying, and when they did, just one plane flying in the sky at a time. Some jets...some biplanes trailing smoke....that was pretty much it. I remember going to a couple of air shows when I was a kid with my dad (at the Trumbull Airport in Groton, CT), and the sky was full of planes...even the Blue Angels made an appearance. Biplanes and WW2 fighter planes having fake dogfights with machine guns firing blanks...wing walkers...skydivers...the works! And I remember getting to go on a bunch of vintage WW2 bombers and other planes...but this one only had one cargo plane for the kids to go into, and they couldn't even go into the cockpit.

Ah well. The kids still had fun, so that is what really matters.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 21, 2019, 06:04 PM

Oh yeah...and because the air show was held at NAS Oceana Air Force base, the bastages confiscated my TINY little Swiss Army Knife on my key ring...and my wife Patti's .38 caliber bullets out of her speedloaders! They let her keep the speedloaders, but still! We knew not to bring our sidearms...but the smallest Swiss Army knife ever made? I kind of get the bullets part because Patti forgot to take them out of her purse when she took out her revolver...but my tiny little Swiss Army knife? Why? This is the second one of those I had confiscated...the first one at a Trump rally...but that I kind of understand...lol!
Kev