Places
TN4 Hop 1: Naples FL to Wildwood FL
239 miles mostly via I-75. Truck miles: 242. Cumulative tow miles: 239. Cumulative truck miles: 242. We have traveled I-75 many times before – and I traveled the 50 miles between Naples and Ft Myers twice a week all winter to play softball – so there was nothing new here. The weather was nice (and … Continue reading
Our last night at Paradise Pointe
We arrived Nov 20. We depart May 7. We have been at Paradise Pointe RV Resort for about 5 months, not counting our aborted cruise time. Time for a review. Capsule summary: it was ok. How’s that for lukewarm? It is a perfectly fine park, but is more oriented toward people living in “park models” … Continue reading
TC1: Our first transatlantic cruise – prelude
The start of our first transatlantic cruise has arrived! For the next 27 nights we will be aboard the Holland America Oosterdam, first crossing the Atlantic Ocean, then cruising the Mediterranean Sea, followed by two nights on land in Venice. It should be an epic vacation! To get started we had a day of very … Continue reading
Brush fires
Brush fires in March are common in southwest Florida. The Everglades may be wetlands, but they are surrounded by vast areas of grass and woodland that burn pretty freely once a fire gets started. Last year parts of Naples had to be evacuated due to fires that threatened the eastern fringe of the city. This … Continue reading
Lingering effects of Hurricane Irma
When we arrived at Paradise Pointe RV Resort in November, some 3 months after Hurricane Irma (Sept 16, 2017), we saw major damage to trees, along with some lesser damage to structures. Within a month most of the trees had been trimmed and the debris had been removed. I thought that was the end of … Continue reading
Truck maintenance nightmares – 2 of 2
After my “adventures” at DeVoe Buick GMC on Wednesday and Thursday I decided that I had better get the bad tires replaced ASAP. So on Friday I drove over to the Goodyear Collier Care Center just a few miles from our park. The instructions, though not trivial, were clear: Put two new Goodyear Wrangler tires … Continue reading
Truck maintenance nightmares – 1 of 2
So I took my truck to DeVoe Buick GMC of Naples on Wednesday with a short list of things that needed attention: Oil change. Check the brakes. Diagnose and, possibly, fix the shimmy that I feel at highway speeds. I dropped the truck off at 11 am and got no phone call that afternoon. I … Continue reading
STE3 wrapup
By the numbers: 9 hops 16 nights 1608 tow miles 2103 truck miles $687.65 in campground fees ($42.98 per night) The actual route included two stops that differed from the plan and had some minor detours and changes in route, but otherwise went as planned. Highlights: The Johnson Space Center in Houston. A fascinating tour … Continue reading
STE3 Hop 9: Sarasota FL to Naples FL
124 miles via I-75, FL 84 and US 41, with a slight detour near the Ft Myers airport. Cumulative tow miles: 1608. Truck miles: 128. Cumulative truck miles: 2103. Thus endeth the Second Trip East (STE). The last hop was short and almost uneventful. The minor event was a stop to check the sewer hose … Continue reading
STE3 Hop 8: Cedar Key FL to Sarasota FL
184 miles via FL 24, US 98, I-75 and FL 780. Cumulative tow miles: 1484. Truck miles: 205. Cumulative truck miles: 1975. Our penultimate hop (I love that word!). It was a 3-hour jaunt, the first half on US 98 and the second half on I-75. It is a route we have traveled before and … Continue reading