Alive and Well---very well

Yes, we ARE alive and well in Dillard, Georgia. I know it has been a while since the last post. I have no real excuses either. Yes, we have been busy …occasionally. Yes, we’ve been out and about….occasionally. Yes, we’ve been enjoying “the good life” ….more than occasionally. Here are some pictures around the campground and our site for starters.

 

 

 

 

Notice in a couple of the pictures above the new entry steps we’ve built for the 5er. We actually had a friend do the work. He is currently renovating the cabin next door as well. The steps are great. We just need to get some stain on them.

River Vista recently hired a new couple to manage the resort. They’ve been on the job for a little over a couple of weeks. This past weekend they organized many activities for the full house that was here camping for the Memorial Day Weekend. The activities started on Friday morning and went through Sunday evening. We were booked to DJ a Memorial Day Weekend “God Bless the USA” Dance Friday evening. It was held inside the Mountain Center. About 40-50 folks stopped in and the kids never sat down-they danced to anything and everything. We were told their were also folks sitting outside on the wooden rockers. We also were asked to do a brief ceremony Sunday morning where we played a few patriotic songs and I did a brief tribute to those American soldiers that have made the ultimate sacrifice followed by the playing of “TAPS” and “God Bless the USA” It was very well received-it moved the many who came to the flag pole for the ceremony. Below is the agenda of activities and a few more pictures.

  

 

  

  

If you want to see all the photos that appear on the River Vista Mountain Village Memorial Day Activities Facebook page , CLICK HERE.

‘Til next time………

We’re Here – in Dillard, Georgia

We arrived here at our site in the Falls View section of River Vista Mountain Village in Dillard Tuesday at about 2:30pm.

Sunday morning at about 10:15am we pulled out of Sanlan RV Park in Lakeland, FL. We stopped at a rest area on I-75 just north of Gainesville and enjoyed a lunch of deli sandwiches , chips and drinks that Barbie had prepared for us. At exit 2 just over the state line in Georgia we stopped to fill the Dodge truck up with diesel at the Flying J. We had no problem getting the 3 cents per gallon discount using our old Flying J rewards card. The only reason I mention this is that others have had to “register” their old cards before they would be recognized for the discount. We paid $3.99 a gallon. We then hopped back on I-75 for 3 miles before exiting at Lake Park to check in to the Eagles Roost RV Resort for the evening. The campground is one we’ve stayed at many times in our travels. With a Good Sam discount we paid $33 for the night. It has long, concrete pull thru, full hookup sites and an adequate wifi network. It has many trees but we were a little disappointed that the sites  were a bit unkept with bottle caps, cigarette butts and the like littering the grounds. We took our time Monday morning as we knew we only planned to travel 120 miles north to the Perry area. We left Eagles Roost at 11:00am and drove for 90 minutes before stopping at a great Georgia rest area at mile marker 108. We ate another great deli sandwich and chips lunch at a picnic table in the rest area. I haven’t had salemi and swiss sandwiches in awhile but those I had those two days were outstanding! We pulled in and checked in at Twin Oaks RV Park at 2:00pm. This is a regular stop for us on our way north each trip as it is a Passport America campground so for the full hook-up, 50 amp site with a strong wifi network we paid $16 for the night. They have no cable tv system but our DirecTV  worked great and we were able to get the digital network channels from the Atlanta area on the antenna. Tuesday morning we left Twin Oaks at about 9:00am and drove until we topped off the gas tank in Eatonton. We’ve used this Citgo Truck Stop many times for diesel fuel. They are less expensive than most and have a well stocked convenience store. We paid $3.97 a gallon for the diesel. We then pulled over at a cute roadside park in Baldwin on Route 441 for a little lunch. Ah, those deli sandwiches sure were good. Have I said that yet ? We pulled into our site at about 2:15pm in Dillard. We stopped and chatted with neighbors then we had more than enough help getting the 5er onto our site for the first time. Let me just say, it was a lot easier backing the old motorhome on the site. But, hey, this was our first run with the new fifth wheel. It’s gotta be easier next time. It had to be just right on the site since we plan to be here until September or so. It took about an hour to get it in the site, leveled, electric, water and sewer connections made, and the four slideouts extended-with all the neighbors helping, er distracting us. Poor Barbie was backing it in, I watch the perimeter and give directions from outside (it works better switching roles we’ve learned), but she also had  “helper #1” giving directions in the drivers side window AND “helper #2” giving directions thru the passengers side window. Enough said. :-)) Once we got all set up we relaxed for the remainder of the evening and watched tv. Oh yes, I did call DirecTV and had them switch over our local channels from the Tampa area spot beam to the Atlanta channels. We’ve spent the past two days settling in, getting a few groceries, visiting with the neighbors and enjoying the peace, quiet and weather here in Dillard. All we need to do now is either get the golf cart sufficiently charged or get new batteries for it-we’ll see.

Oh, in case you were wondering, Kozmo was great on the trip and seems to like our deck here quite well. She doesn’t seem to care for the gravel that the 5er sits on though! And, oh yeah, she loves the deli meats and cheeses also!

I’ll take a bunch of pictures for the next post. But, until then check out this great article that appeared in the Knoxville (Tenn) Daily Sun about River Vista and the Dillard area. Click HERE. See why we love it here?

‘Til next time…….

From Rock Crusher to Sanlan RV Park

We hitched up the “Castle” and left our winter home in Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park in Crystal River, FL, Wednesday shortly after noon.  Two and a half hours later we were setting up to spend the night at Sanlan RV Park in Lakeland, FL. The plan was to spend Wednesday night at Sanlan and then take the “Castle” 8.1 miles to Quadra Manufacturing to have the “Bigfoot” Automatic Quad Hydraulic Leveling System installed on the 5er. We had to have the 5er at Quadra at 8:00am Thursday morning and leave it there overnight until noon Friday. After dropping the 5er off we headed to our Valrico stix-n-brix home to spend Thursday night and take care of some housekeeping issues before heading out Friday to pick up the “Castle” and back to Sanlan to spend Friday and Saturday nights. Our first stop on the way home to Valrico was to catch a fast food breakfast. So Egg McMuffins were in order for Barbie, myself and Kozmo, of course. We don’t know if it was Kozmo’s first Egg McMuffin or not but she seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. After getting settled in at Valrico, Barbie went out and bought some groceries, made a trip to Lowes for some Round-Up and some a/c filters while Kozmo and I rested. I received an initially upsetting phone call Thursday pm from Quadra Manufacturing telling me one of their “helper” employees who was assisting with our job up and quit late Thursday pm. Before I got real bent out of shape, Rita, the wife of the owner,  explained that her husband, Roy, would have the job done but could he have until 4:00pm, not noon on Friday. Phew, not a problem. We were going back to Sanlan anyway and that is only 20 minutes away. That also gave Barbie some additional time Friday to get her “tasks” around the Valrico home completed.

Friday morn I left Valrico at 7:00am to take my truck to Tampa Spring Company in Lakeland to have my u-bolts re-torqued per the arrangements made when we got the new “leaf” put in each side on the back of my truck at the Ocala shop of Tampa Spring last week. I was the first one there when they opened the doors so they had me re-torqued and back on the road by 8:15. Once I returned we hung out at the Valrico home until 2:30pm when we went and grabbed a bite to eat at Zaxbys before heading to Quadra to pick up the “Castle.” In case you wondered, YES, Kozmo likes Zaxby’s chicken too!

Once we arrived at Quadra, Roy had our Bigfoot Quad System all installed and ready to go. He then showed us what to do when unhitching and then what to do when hitching back up. Then, he made us go through each process, not one time but two times before allowing us to pay the bill and leave. He completed the job himself Friday with no help. He is such an incredibly professional man-we really appreciate his work ethic and his  courtesy. If anyone needs or wants any information about the system give Roy Trevino a call at 863 619-8617. He’ll answers all of your questions and take care of you. He is awesome. Now to the system. Wow, such an ease to level the 5er now. No wood blocks, no checking a level for front-to-back and side-to-side level anymore. Once we unhitch from the truck, I simply push the “auto” button on the control box and within 60 seconds we are level. It is REALLY sweet! It will save much time and aggravation on our parts I’m sure. 

Setting up once we got back to Sanlan was a snap. Once we unhitched the truck, as Barbie pulled the truck away to move it behind the “Castle” I had pushed “auto” and before she and Kozmo got out of the truck, we were leveled. Barbie’s friend from Mann Middle School, Linda, and her husband Bill brought their new motorhome here for the weekend so we could spend some time together before we head north. I’ll post pictures of Sanlan on the next post.

‘Til next time…….

Mission Accomplished

It is with deep appreciation that I offer my heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to all those involved in the planning and execution of the mission that involved the killing of hated terrorist leader, Osama Bin Laden. As one of my favorites, Craig Ferguson, host of the CBS Late, Late Show, says at the beginning of his monologue each night, “It’s a great day for America.”  Ten long years and so many dead, we can now close an ugly chapter in our history. I’m proud to be an American!

Click HERE

God Bless the U.S.A.

by Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota
to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston
and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
and it's time we stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

‘Til next time……