Seffner FL - finally!

June 3, 2016

We picked up the car and stayed a few more days at Lakeside RV Park in Livingston LA.  It was a quiet and relaxing few days because the next few weeks would be plenty busy.

So once again headed toward Seffner FL, fingers crossed that nothing else would hinder our travels.

We arrived at Lazydays on Friday June 3 and parked our motorhome in their parking lot and went to a motel for a few days.  On Saturday, our 2 beagles and cat went to the kennel PartOfTheFamilyKennels.com so we could give our full attention to our consultant on Monday.  They were so excited they didn't even say goodbye!  Meanwhile, we found out that our RV refrigerator was not working on propane, so we emptied it out and packed the fridge at the motel and a cooler for the rest.  And added the fridge to the list of repairs.  

We spent time at the campground  

And the repair bays  

Endured lots of rain

 

We waited for the warranty company came out to inspect the coach and they approved of almost everything.  So we waited while parts were ordered and the work completed.  From the Repair Shop to Chassis Shop and Cabinetry Shop, everyone did a great job.

We saw this:

I was curious so I looked it up.  Turns out it's a mobile eyeglass lab run by the Glazer Family Foundation which was created by Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer.

On July 11, we were finally off to 

Whitney Point NY.

See You Soon!

More in Baton Rouge

May 16 - June 1, 2016. 

Well we went to Lakeside RV Park a few days after we arrived at the Ford dealership.  At first, our service manager didn't think it was too serious and hoped we'd be out of there by the end of the week but after the technicians has time to look at the car, they determined that the transmission was totally burned up.  They talked to Corporate to see if they should repair or replace the transmission and clutch.  Turns out they decided to replace everything, which is good (and quicker).

We rented a car and moved out to Lakeside RV Park in Livingston, Louisiana.  After the problem we had with the slides and CoachNet sent someone out, Lakeside Park pulled some strings and let us stay in the monthly section on the lake.  So we moved the next day and settled in until the car was ready.  We also moved our appointment with LazyDays to Monday June 6.  

We're hoping to keep that appt!

It was a great decision as it was much better than dry-camping in the back lot of the Ford dealership.  We loved the place and made a lot of friends. One day we took one of our dogs to the vet to renew his Rabies shot and met our neighbors from across the way.  Small world...

Two pair of geese decided to make the lake their home, 1 pair had a couple babies.  They all stayed together, then one day they were gone.

Am I am posting about food?  

Because I saw a Tasty video and it was so good! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg0SHuklcEI

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We finally got our car back and stayed a few more days.

We loved Lakeside RV Park and will always have fond memories of the park and the people we met.

While we were there, I relaxed and 

did my first Tangle.  

We ate shrimp and crawfish.

The last day there, our neighbor Deborah brought us Boudin balls and sausage.  I feel terrible we didn't sample the local cuisine sooner!  All the more reason to return, as it was most delicious!

Onward to Tampa!

And the adventure continues!

Onward toward Florida... again.

May 15 - June 1, 2016

Truck and Tracks released us Friday afternoon after they tested the coach to make sure everything worked as it should.  We planned to go through Houston the next morning, but decided upon the advice of well, everyone, to go through in the middle of the night. So after a quick bite, we hooked up the car, faced the entrance, and after a few winks we were off at 2am in the morning...

We sailed right through Houston! No traffic, lots of light and all 65 feet of us breezed right through.  They were right, all of them...

Not the most perfect pictures 
but you get the idea...

We parked at Deisi's Lucky Capital in Breaux Bridge LA for the night, a little truck stop that has the best burgers and a casino.  It's located in just before the Calcasieu Bridge over Lake Charles and then the bridge over the Atchafalaya Swamp.  We were pretty tired by the time we got to Diesi's so we just chilled and went to bed early. 

We left Diesi's first thing Sunday morning. The Calcasieu Bridge is on I-10 over Lake Charles and has been deemed unsafe since at least 2009.

http://www.americanpress.com/Magazine-names-Calcasieu-River-bridge-one-of-most-dangerous

  

  

We took the bypass of course but someone passing us POINTED TO OUR TOAD which was smoking. SMOKING!  We pulled off I-10 right away. So 65 feet of us on a busy 2-lane did I say BUSY highway on a Sunday?

We unhooked the car and waited in the rain for the tow truck to come and take our car to the nearest Ford dealership.  

The car was towed to Hollingsworth Richard Ford http://www.hollingsworthrichardsford.com/ and were up bright and early when the workers came in Monday morning. We are self-contained so we made ourselves at home for the night, running the generator for electric and air conditioning. 

We slept very well that night.

so here we are..

 

We woke up bright and early Monday morning to workers wondering who this big bus is in their parking lot! I admit that a motor home is a bit of an anomaly sitting in a dealer parking lot.

They were gracious and willing to help us out.  Lou was our service adviser and point of contact.  At first he didn't think it was very serious and we dry camp ed in the lot around back.  When we found out it would take a lot longer, we booked a site at Lakeview RV Park in Livingston LA.

All was not roses though.  Once we parked at the RV Park, the slides wouldn't go all the way out.  So once again we called CoachNet and asked them to send someone out.  By this time, they're pretty tired of us but they were as professional and kept in touch with us the entire time.

The man who came was an RVer himself and he checked all circuits and fuses and finally determined our problem was the hydraulic fluid.  He listened carefully and finally found the tank under the front step. After he dismantled the step, he added 1 gallon of hydraulic fluid and we were good to go!

Here we are, settled in for the night 
with our rental car and coach.

That's all for now.  

Stay tuned for the diagnosis, how we coped.  

And the turn of events.

Tampa Bound At Last (or so we thought)

May 11 - 13, 2016

We pulled out of Rockport TX on May 11.  We had an appointment in Florida the following Monday for some warranty work and new window for our coach. Unfortunately we didn't make it until June 3.  So let me begin our trials and adventures.

We got about 150 miles and the coach Overheat light came on so we pulled off at the next exit. We had just gotten on I-10 and exited near Glidden TX to assess our situation.  

We parked in a large gravel lot right off the exit in front of what looked like a barn and next to an RV park.  Well the barn turned out to be a large open bar. How lucky is that!  So we called CoachNet and sat back with a cold beer, Lone Star of course, and waited for the tow truck. CoachNet kept us in the loop the entire time.

 And yes, those are bugs.

The tow truck finally arrived and hooked up the coach. It was huge!  I can't even get it all in one picture!  Everyone in the bar came out to watch - it was probably the most excitement folks had seen in these parts in a long time.  

The tow went well and the coach was finally parked in the repair lot at Truck and Tracks in Weimer TX. www.truckandtracks.com

It set us back a few days so we had a chance to get to know the area. If you love BBQ, Peter's in Elliger TX has the best!

Although it took a few days and a couple test drives, all the coach needed was a new thermostat. It was under the closet floor and the guy had to be an acrobat to get to it.  Truck and Tracks would not release us until Friday evening because they wanted to make sure everything was A-OK. We thank them for their diligence and hard work to diagnose the problem.  They are truly professional.  

So here we are all hitched up and ready to drive through Houston.   
At 3 am.

Stay tuned for more adventures as we travel to Florida!

One More Rockport TX post, then the fun begins..

April 17 - May 11, 2016

During our time in Rockport we did a lot of sightseeing. 

Early on, Patricia, Peggy and I visited a local quilting shop,

Golden Needles and Quilts (www.SewByTheBay.com).  

I just bought a sewing machine that also quilts 

so it was like Christmas time to me!

We visited Port Aransis, went to the beach..

               Saw this on the way back...

But this - why?

Went to see the Big Tree (and flowers too).

random flowers

 

And random boats and other photos about town...

Ate here one day. I never would have found it.

I loved the view...

What an entertaining night. 

           













              and a magical one.....

 We left Rockport on May 11 heading toward Florida.

 We had an appointment May 16 to get some work done on our coach.

 Unfortunately we didn't arrive until June 3, several weeks later.

 I'll tell you all about it next time so stay tuned!

In the meantime, we loved Rockport and all the friends we made 

and look forward to coming back next year!