summer 2005

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My first steps and adventures of RV living. 

For the spring of '05 I felt it necessary to move into the RV and actually learn the systems and get acquainted with RV living. I chose Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale to spend a couple of months in two different parks. Both had their high points and a couple of low points. 

I learned in Hollywood, don't assume anything by site. This location was at the end of the property overlooking a lake. This is rare spot just off of I-95. I was adjacent to the pool and the park had been completely redone and kept impeccably. I used my time there to write for this website. It was a wonderfully creative period.

After the website was completed, I didn't realize it was probably time to leave that spot. The weather in South Florida became very stormy which is generally the case in late spring, early summer. The difference on this lake was the storms tended to be exceptionally violent. These were not hurricanes, just our normal thunderstorms. Being new to the RV lifestyle and not really paying attention, I forgot to put up the outside awning. One morning I was caught in the motor home in a violent thunderstorm. The winds were howling and the rain was heavy. I looked out the window to see the awning waving up and down like a bed sheet we shake out before folding. I was concerned, but it was too late to run out and close the awning. Within a few minutes the storm got so violent the awning's mounting bars were ripped off the side of the awning and it was thrown up on the roof. The sound was out of the movie "The Perfect Storm." All I could think of was, if I would have followed my intuition yesterday and closed that awning, I would not be having this experience. I do believe we are generally warned if we pay attention. I was just plain lazy. 

After that destruction, I chose to leave Hollywood. I should mention that it is the site where Trinity Broadcasting resides. I did not find it exceptionally loving or charitable. It was actually one of the highest priced sites for the slow summer season in Florida. But I did get inspired there. 

I moved on to park in northern Fort Lauderdale. This is a county run park and is situated in a wooded area also convenient to I-95. I immediately liked the surroundings better than Hollywood. My mission here was to make the necessary repairs from the storm as well as prepare my car and the motor home for the long journey. This proved to be a costly endeavor for the car but this expense was balanced out with less expensive repairs to the motor home. 

Let me first share that sometimes we are meant to wait for the perfect solution. I needed the parts for the awning and called my service connection at the dealer that I purchased the RV. He was supportive and friendly as always, but I did not make an appointment at that time. I didn't know why except that it is a six-hour drive to the dealer and then I couldn’t warrant driving back down south when I would be leaving in a few weeks. I waited and decided to go to the one big local RV supply store. The experience I had on the phone would have had me give up. The woman was busy and could not help me and did not offer to get a more technical employee on the phone. I finally asked her if it was a bad time and she told me she was busy with customers. If I chose to act on her attitude at that moment, I would have given up. I chose to just go to the store and see what transpired. I immediately went to a very helpful and knowledgeable employee who explained some options and then told me to wait so he could check their storeroom. Within ten minutes he returned with exactly the parts I needed which were used and that the manager priced at $80.00 which was less than half of the cost of new. I thanked him and knew that was a great blessing for the day. I informed the employee how perfect it was for him to find just those parts and thanked him too. That is the way life works when we are in perfect alignment and allowing everything to be worked out. 

Getting on the road. 

With much anticipation and lots of preparation and changing of plans, it looks like the departure date is Sunday, July 17th. The first stop is Darien, GA., arriving Sunday night and staying 'till Monday. After that, I’m off to Columbia, SC and Balsam, NC.  It is the first leg of this adventure and just enough to handle as far as time behind the wheel. 

After that it is off to Colorado and that stay will most likely last at least a couple of weeks. It has been difficult to pinpoint exact times and locations since this is my first time seeing any of the areas I will visit and may wish to spend some time in certain areas.

More to come . . .