Cruising into Happy Monday

Cruising into a Happy Monday 

Monday April 22, 2024

This morning I went up for Walk Fit, such a small group now,

and line dance. While I was gone Jim was playing the drums.

 During line dance a lady came in and said she line danced 30 years ago and is from the north. 

Linda seemed so familiar to me,  like I met her before. I asked her where she was from in the North, she said Pennsylvania. She line danced at the Winner's Circle Saloon in Grantville. Ding ding, that's where I knew her from, we had a great time dancing together.

 Another guy showed up named Bill, his wife was away and, I told him my husband calls that being left  unsupervised. I  introduced Jim one day,  when he dropped off my phone. Bill was lovely, very positive outgoing man and he liked to dance. 

He said he line danced a long time ago too. He was a wedding photographer and he's used to being around women, he was a joy.

 After line dance, I went home and started doing some food prep, I dished up my yogurt I made, 

made a pumpkin cream cheese 

dump cake, and banana peanut butter chocolate chip cookies 

 and chopped up the peppers that Jackie gave me the other day. 

I had a burrito bowl for dinner. Jim had the Ninja out, and made himself a steak.

Tuesday April 23, 2024

Today I did walk fit and line danced. When I got home Jim and I had a big decision to make. 

Switch it up just opened up an XP  experience, switch crew trip for a Cruise to Alaska. 

Jim and I decided we just couldn't pass it up, and we signed up for our very first cruise. It is in July of 2025 so exciting. 

Later after lunch we took a golf cart ride and saw this really cute trailer. 

The lady said it was made from the UK it's called Barefoot. She just retired, is traveling around from Maryland. 

 Later our neighbor had a lovely fire in their fireplace out back.

 Later Jim got the Ninja out again and I had a burrito bowl, did more food prep

and what a beautiful full moon  

 over TTO tonight.

Thanks Dan Starr for a better picture of the TTO moon.

Hair Cut for one of us, New home for the F-450

Hair Cut for one of US, New home for the F-450 

Saturday April 20, 2024

This morning we got up and enjoyed our coffee. Watched a video of Switch It Up, with Todd and Sheila. 

Here's a great picture of their new setup. 

A list of their upcoming events some of which we're attending. 

We will see them soon, at the next Huddle in South Caroline.

 Later we got ready and left for a haircut appointment.

 Even though it's towards the end of the season there was a short line coming into the park today on our way out. 

Then we went into Clermont and it was me that had a trim today. Love haircut day. I usually only go every 4 to 5 months. 

Once I came out we went to Ruby Tuesday's for lunch, just had salad today. 

Then we stopped at Kohl's on the way back. Didn't find anything I wanted. 

We made a quick stop for gas, O'REILLY and to Walmart. Came back to the RV.

 I got dinner together and I went up they were having a 50s sock hop, dance with a DJ. 

Jim took me up in the golf cart, realized I forgot my phone, but I never forget my water, he came back and got it for me. 

There was a few more of my dancing friends came tonight. We got to dance quite a bit. 

They were playing 50s music, but when the DJ realized we all line danced, the music quickly changed from the '50s to More Country and other genres. 

Then Karen from Halifax Nova Scotia offered to drive me home which was about 9:30. She was telling me about her 1973 Motorhome.

Sunday April 21, 2024 

Today's the day we find a new home for the Ford. I couldn't sleep well last night thinking about my long drive today. Haven't driven 2 consecutive hours since I went up to my brother's before I went back to work that last year in Pennsylvania. Probably almost 3 years ago now.

We were going back to Port Richey to Rick and Jackie's property. We're taking them up on their generous offer for John to sell it for us. He feels as though it's more of a truck area and will sell easier here. 

I guess it was my idea, but for some reason I wanted to drive the F450 today. So I followed Jim. It was not a bad Drive, we were on the phone together the whole time. He did have to tell me a few times to keep up with him. Didn't want to lose him at a red light. Amazing I never did, thanks to his reminders to catch up. LOL. 

It was very enjoyable drive for me I will miss the heating and cooled seats. Both feeling a little sad leaving the truck. It's been good to us and we had a lot of fun in it.

We made a stop about halfway at a Burger King for a potty break. I went into the stall and realized there was no paper. There was a lady in the handicap bathroom and she had none either. Went out and told them, she immediately brought some in. The lady ordering food thank me, she said it was her mother in there and she just picked her up from the hospital, she's taking her home to Georgia with her. I said I was taking care of her, she thanked me. 

Previously working in a nursing home it's just what I do I guess. Went into the lady three different times as Jim waited. 

Once we finally left, and back on the road again. We still had a 40-minute drive yet. The drive wasn't bad at all pretty rural. We did have one road that was closed and had to turn off which extended the trip a little bit. 

Drove by some beautiful homes though. Harder for me to look around. We arrived at Rick and Jackie's property about 12:30 or so.

We said hi to Rick and Jackie. John was there too. We were hoping he would go to lunch with us, but he was working. Wanted to talk to him about the truck details. But will do that when we come back. 

We planned to go to lunch with Jackie and Rick. We jumped in there Jeep and went back to Hooters. We sat outside with the water view. 

We saw the cat in the picture. He was hanging out in the restaurant. And Rick said " that's our cat," he said they had it fixed and somehow he got stuck in the paint booth that's in the big building next to where we're camping. And when he finally got out he took off and they never seen him again. But looks like he made himself quite the home here at Hooters. The one waitress said they feed him every day.

We all wanted turkey burgers, but Jim got a cheese steak. It was so nice of them they treated us to lunch. Nice catching up and finally getting to go out with them. We just ran out of time when we were here before. 

Got back to the property. 

Got to see Richard was still there. 

He's having some new puppy issues with Maisie. Didn't get to see her but he sent us a picture. 

Hard to tell how much she has grown, from a picture.

Then we got to talk with John and worked out the details gave him the paperwork he needed for the truck.

 Looked at it again. Rick was really trying to sell it to Richard he really needs something new and Rick feels this would be ideal.

We said goodbye to everyone, by now it was about 2:30 , 3:00. One last look at the truck, luckily we got away without tearing up. I was afraid we might. We had our share of issues with it, put some money into it, but it was a good truck.

 Then I got to be a passenger again on the drive home. 

The drive went really quickly. We arrived around dinner time.

I was very surprised how sad it made me getting rid of the F-450 today. BUT...

On to a new chapter.

Found our TWIN, that's not US

Found our TWIN, that's not US

Thursday April 18, 2024

This morning I went up at 9:00 for walk fit and line dancing. When I was leaving I saw Shawn, part of our Switch Crew, who has his own YouTube channel, called RV Your Way. 

He asked us before if we would be willing to do a video with him of our new setup. He likes to do videos of RVers who full-time.

So agreed we would do it tomorrow after line dancing and lunch. 

We said goodbye and I walked home.

 Jim and I had lunch together and then he went for a golf cart ride.  I wanted to vacuum and clean and do some things. 

After he left I started vacuuming Etc. Cleaning up putting things away for tomorrow's video shoot with Shawn. Then I rearranged a shelf above our chairs. 

 Hope I can find what I'm looking for, I didn't move things around too much. When I was cleaning Jim sent me a picture and said look what I found. 

He found our twin Volvo here. 

That's not US.

They have a Full House DRV.

Later after dinner we took a golf cart ride and went to stalk them, I mean went to see if we can say hi. 

They were coming out with the trash  as we drove the golf cart by, 

they are Scott and Deanna. They have a 2016 Volvo 780. They showed us both the inside, we talked about the similarities and the differences. They were very helpful with some ideas for us and questions we had. 

What a lovely chat we had and he mentioned that Neil Pope would be coming in with his HDT. We met him at the HDT Rally in October. He has a big box on the back that he does a lot of solar install for people. 

Then we came back from the ride after a lovely visit. Enjoyed the rest of the evening watch a little TV. 

Friday April 19, 2024

 This morning I went up for walk fit an line dance. During walk fit a lady walked in and looked around. I went over and said hi to her. She said she loves to do Leslie Sansone videos too. All the while I kept walking and my feet moving, lol. She was talking about how she had a big truck and blah blah blah.  I said what kind of big truck. 

She said they have an HDT that is a full-on toter home. 15 ft box totally self-contained motorhome. And both her and her husband Jerry and Terry have their CDLs and our commercial drivers, she sent me a picture and this is their home. 

I said hope we can talk again later.

Pam had stopped in we chatted a bit but I had to take off so we could have lunch before Shawn comes over.

 He arrived about 1:00 we started on the inside of the fifth wheel. Yesterday and today it's over 90° out and super humid. We went through the fifth wheel then we went outside. He did a quick walk through around the outside of the RV. Then we showed off the Volvo and the smart. We finished about 2:30. 

As we were sitting outside Scott and Neil Pope arrived in their golf cart,  we  all chatted a bit, quick got some pictures of all of us together. 

As Shawn was getting ready to leave, Terry and Jerry stopped by on their e-bikes.

 We had a nice chat all of us together. We said goodbye to Shawn and we invited them in. 

I showed Jim the picture she sent me  of their HDT.

They were probably here for almost 2 hours, we had a lovely visit and learned a lot from them. 

After they left I got dinner together and Jim and I talked about how much we learned today and yesterday.

Later we went for a golf cart ride and saw Jerry and Terry and they gave us a tour.

The bed comes down right over the table no need to move it.

You can see Shawn's video of us on 

RV Your Way

hhps://youTu.be/bnadoKtJfnU

NASA Kennedy Space Center

NASA Kennedy Space Center 

Wednesday April 17, 2024

 Jim had the alarm set for 6:30 a.m.. we woke up happily and got ready to leave to head to KSC.

 We decided to take the Ford yesterday. As the AC works great and it was going to be super hot and humid today. We left about 7:30 a.m. and arrived there closer to 9:00. We had our tickets we bought when Thomas was here that were only $5 extra. 

As soon as we arrived we put the For Sale signs back up. We carried the lunch I packed and a lot of water.

 Immediately went over and got on the bus. They play videos on the way explaining what we were looking at on the drive.

We saw gators in canal on the drive over and back. They looked to be at least three or four feet each.

 The  huge building is the Vehicle Assembly Building with a flag that is 24 stories high. 

The red stripe is the width of a road 8 ft. The VAB has the largest doors in the world. The blue part of the flag is the size of an NBA basketball court. The stars are 6 foot across. They have to repaint it every few year. The Florida Sun is hard on it.

We went into a room that simulated the first manned Apolo launch.   So loud had to hold my ears. The whole room vibrated. 

The picture on the left there was a hologram with a astronaut in a tube looking thing, I forget his name. You could press a button with different questions and he would answer them in there. Kind of creepy it looked like he was in that tube.

Went into gift shop. Jim got a hat and T-shirt. 

The size of them was incredible, some were suspended from the ceiling.

We took return trip back. I saw this circle in the sky while on the bus.

When we arrived we saw and heard the fighter jets over head, making the shapes in the sky. 

Really cool.

 Then we found a lovely outdoor table in the shade and had our lunch I packed. So enjoyable I wish I would have packed for all of us when we came the first time with Thomas. Definitely healthier and cheaper.

 Got a phone call from one of my line dancing friends, Pam she had a knee injury, hope I get to see her soon. 

Below is a one of the viewing areas for launching the Rockets. 

Jim getting a lesson on how to land a shuttle on Mars. 

 Jim and I packed up and continue walking around, went into the huge gift shop here. 

Then we went into the building that had different ride simulations. We only got to do one of them with Thomas. 

Above picture. You relive the launch of the first crewed NASA mission to orbit the Moon in 1968 aboard the massive Saturn V Rocket at the firing Room Theater. Experience the countdown for Apollo 8 facing the actual controls used during the Apollo launches as you see and feel the powerful Saturn V Moon rocket lift off from the Launch Pad and blast into space.

Today we finished the other three rides.

They were simulating going to Mars, and the Moon. 

We went and also did a talk with an astronaut his name was Mark Lee.

Really enjoyable. He took questions from the audience, which was full of young people on field trips. The kids asked really great questions. He told us at the end that there was a SpaceX launch tonight,  5:30 window opened. They were staying open an extra hour. Couldn't believe our luck we'd be able to see another launch today hopefully.

We continue to walk around and felt as though we covered pretty much everything we thought we'd want to see. 

Started walking over to the viewing area for the launch. Thought we were getting there so early, but the seats were pretty much filled up. So we found a spot in the grass to sit.

 There's a guy sitting on a big blanket and he started talking to us immediately, when he saw my switch it up hat, and Jim RV there yet shirt. He said, I watch them sometimes.

 We had a lovely conversation all things RV, and travel. They were on vacation here for 2 weeks, in their fifth wheel from Wisconsin. He was waiting for his wife and two young daughters. 

They had a big screen up and 

there was a guy giving commentary on what was happening or about to happen. We watched the launch go off right in front of us. 

Was so loud I had to hold my ears.

What another fantastic end to the day. We said goodbye to Misty and her husband Mitch with two daughters Lily and Maddie.. 

then we walked out to the truck. 

We enjoyed the cottage cheese pudding treat I had packed away. 

But now it was after 6:00 p.m. and we're getting ready for dinner so that held us over. Wasn't too bad getting out of the parking lot. 

We drove towards home and stopped at a Chick-fil-a, for the first time. We really enjoyed the sauce, I told Jim I think they sell that in the stores, will have to try to find some.

Sun was setting on our drive.. 

It was still daylight when we got home, barely. 

What a great day although we missed Thomas and family.