Author Archives: Sparky
The ever-changing view from the marina
Even on a dreary day the view from the marina office is pleasant. On a sunny day – or a stormy day with sunny breaks – the view can be absolutely breathtaking. I particularly like the marina when the sun gets low in the sky and long shadows mix with bright boat profiles.
Bored at the marina
The marina was very busy this summer, except for those few days when the weather was bad. But even on those days I had maintenance chores to keep me busy: power-washing the pontoon boats, replacing worn boards on the docks, etc. Now, post-Labor Day, business has fallen off the cliff. On Sunday the wind was … Continue reading
RV water torture. the continuing saga
Our fresh water overflow problem is back. After mysteriously disappearing two months ago, it reappeared after I (belatedly) replaced the anode rod in our hot water heater a couple of days ago. To perform that little task, I had to turn off the water supply for about 20 minutes. A few hours after turning the … Continue reading
Headstone hunting
As you may know, I have been spending a large portion of my free time researching Jett’s ancestors. One branch of her family lived – and died – in Vermont. According to my records, six of them were buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in North Springfield, VT. Despite it being the permanent resting place … Continue reading
Night lightning
My dogs hate thunderstorms, so lightning of any kind is usually not welcome in our home. But recently we experienced a spectacular nighttime lightning storm that was almost totally thunder-free. It eventually turned into a real thunderstorm with rain, wind, thunder and lightning, but for about 20 minutes it was simply a spectacular light show … Continue reading
Staining the docks
One of the tasks of a marina guy is to maintain the docks. This includes replacing worn board (I have replaced about 25 this year) and staining the docks. Replacing the boards is a matter of using a crowbar to rip up the old one, then screwing down a new one. Not hard, except on … Continue reading
Jett’s digestive issues
Jett will probably kill me for posting this, but it is an important topic that significantly affects our life on the road, so I think it should be covered. Jett has, for many years, suffered from occasional bouts of pancreatitis. I am sure that she would want me to immediately point out that hers is … Continue reading
56th Escapade
When Jett and I first heard that the 2016 Escapade – the national convention for the Escapees RV Club of full-time RVers – was to be held in 2016 in Vermont, we immediately resolved to be there. One of the reasons we accepted our summer jobs in South Hero, VT, was that we would be … Continue reading
Starr Farm dog park
One of the (many) shortcomings of the Apple Island Resort is the lack of a dog park. While there are plenty of places to walk the dogs, there is no place where they can run (or in Grace’s case, walk) freely. So I recently took them to the Starr Farm Dog Park in Burlington. This … Continue reading
Apple Island fauna
The Apple Island Resort is not exactly in the middle of nowhere; it is on US Route 2 – a heavily-traveled road – on the shores of Lake Champlain, just a few miles from Burlington, Vermont’s largest city. Yet I have been surprised several times by the sudden and unexpected appearance of wildlife of various … Continue reading »