Friday, February 29, 2008
Friday –Moving on to Panama City
Today we said goodbye to Fred Gannon State park and drove back eastwards along the coast to Panama City, where we will stay over the weekend. On the way here we passed through a little community called Seaside. It was all very twee and lasid out like a New England village. As we drove through we looked and thought, we've seen this somewhere before. It was the town they used to film The Truman Show. We will try and get some pics up on to google soon.
Thursday - Pensacola at Last
Today we ventured to the point farthest west in our travels – Pensacola. This had been the target for our vacation this time. Because of difficulties booking campsites we are at Fred Gannon Bayou (which is very nice), which is about 70 miles short of Pensacola, further than I had realised. So a trip there would take all day. We set out and made good time. The number one attraction at Pensacola is the National Museum of Naval Aviation (yes another aircraft museum). But this one is big. Too big to take in really, but we booked ourselves onto a walking tour inside and a bus tour outside. This gave us a bit of time to look at some bits in the museum. We walked through three very accurate diorama’s. The flight deck of a wartime Carrier, a Marine camp on a South Pacific Island (circa 1943) and ‘Main Street USA’ (circa 1943 also). The Main Street in particular was fascinating. I did not realise that USA had rationing during the war, I must look further into that one.
The tour indoors was conducted by a retired naval pilot and was very interesting, as each of the planes he talked about were real and had stories about them, which he told and brought to life. Not all war stories, but about how flying boats were operated, how the first plane to cross the Atlantic managed it, how to avoid being shot down by a Zero.
The bus tour showed us some planes parked outside. The bus driver/tour guide was a retired lieutenant colonel, he retired in 1975, two years after I started work! The whole visit was very interesting. But is was time to move onto the other attraction of Pensacola – its fish industry.
We moved into the historical area of Pensacola and visited ‘Patti Joe’s’, a fresh fish shop, built onto a fishing quay. They bring in the fish and sell it straight away. It is very popular. You can walk through the shop and see all sorts of fish, either as whole fish or prepared. You can pick your lobster and have it still alive, or cooked ($9.99 a lb, no extra cost for cooking it), Jumbo Shrimp at $7.00 a lb, Wild Atlantic Salmon at $4.99 a lb. It was fascinating to watch. We didn’t buy anything though.
After this we moved on to the famous Fish House Restaurant, as recommended by Carol and Richard. It was an excellent meal, everything you could ask. We had Crab Claws in a garlic sauce as starters. Sally had Salmon encrusted with pecan and deep fried with asparagus. I had ‘Shrimp and Grits A Ya Ya’, shrimp (big prawns) with a sauce on a bed of grits (creamed corn, with cheese melted in it), which sounds awful, but tasted very nice. We followed that with Key Lime Pie. Yes, it was excellent, good food, lovely surroundings, a great view, warm plates, an intelligent and attractive waitress and good company. It was a god job we had held Sally’s birthday meal in reserve.
This just left the long drive home, we left Pensacola just as the sun was setting over the bayou, beautiful. We had one difficulty, there is a sea side drive, where the road is on a huge (about 20 miles long) sand spit and the road literally is built on the beach. The only trouble is that (although we were warned and only remembered at the wrong time) in one place the road had been washed away during a hurricane and we didn’t realise this until we got to the point where it ended, so we had driven about ten miles only to have to turn back and take another road. Also, because the beaches are so fabulous the whole 70 miles of the coastline is developed with condo’s, houses and shops, which meant it was a very slow road. So the trip home was longer than expected, so we arrived home very tired.
The tour indoors was conducted by a retired naval pilot and was very interesting, as each of the planes he talked about were real and had stories about them, which he told and brought to life. Not all war stories, but about how flying boats were operated, how the first plane to cross the Atlantic managed it, how to avoid being shot down by a Zero.
The bus tour showed us some planes parked outside. The bus driver/tour guide was a retired lieutenant colonel, he retired in 1975, two years after I started work! The whole visit was very interesting. But is was time to move onto the other attraction of Pensacola – its fish industry.
We moved into the historical area of Pensacola and visited ‘Patti Joe’s’, a fresh fish shop, built onto a fishing quay. They bring in the fish and sell it straight away. It is very popular. You can walk through the shop and see all sorts of fish, either as whole fish or prepared. You can pick your lobster and have it still alive, or cooked ($9.99 a lb, no extra cost for cooking it), Jumbo Shrimp at $7.00 a lb, Wild Atlantic Salmon at $4.99 a lb. It was fascinating to watch. We didn’t buy anything though.
After this we moved on to the famous Fish House Restaurant, as recommended by Carol and Richard. It was an excellent meal, everything you could ask. We had Crab Claws in a garlic sauce as starters. Sally had Salmon encrusted with pecan and deep fried with asparagus. I had ‘Shrimp and Grits A Ya Ya’, shrimp (big prawns) with a sauce on a bed of grits (creamed corn, with cheese melted in it), which sounds awful, but tasted very nice. We followed that with Key Lime Pie. Yes, it was excellent, good food, lovely surroundings, a great view, warm plates, an intelligent and attractive waitress and good company. It was a god job we had held Sally’s birthday meal in reserve.
This just left the long drive home, we left Pensacola just as the sun was setting over the bayou, beautiful. We had one difficulty, there is a sea side drive, where the road is on a huge (about 20 miles long) sand spit and the road literally is built on the beach. The only trouble is that (although we were warned and only remembered at the wrong time) in one place the road had been washed away during a hurricane and we didn’t realise this until we got to the point where it ended, so we had driven about ten miles only to have to turn back and take another road. Also, because the beaches are so fabulous the whole 70 miles of the coastline is developed with condo’s, houses and shops, which meant it was a very slow road. So the trip home was longer than expected, so we arrived home very tired.
Wednesday: Unexpected friends
Having had a couple of busy days we needed to relax, so decided to stay round the campground. So we put a wash in and explored the area a little, finding a very pretty and secluded little lake just by the campground, which is a part of a nature trail, where we could just sit in the sun and relax. While we were t here we got talking to a lovely couple who were teachers as well. They had spent time in UK, even married there in 1973, the same year as us. We got on like a house on fire, in the afternoon we shared a cup of tea/coffee and in the evening we went out to Anida’s Thai Restaurant, where we had a very pleasant meal, which, much to our embarrassment, but delight, they insisted on paying for. They live in Pensacola, so were able to suggest places to visit, as we planned to visit there the next day. So a quiet day turned out to be lovely, with unexpected and unlooked for joys in meeting others.
Tuesday – Visiting the Fort Walton Area
We had identified a couple of museums to visit, so we packed a picnic and set off. The first was a small local history museum which described how the area had developed since the Spanish settled here in the 17th century, also it showed how pioneers lived. It was very interesting. We then moved on to the Fort Walton Museum of Aviation Armament. This is a collection of modern, but no longer used, aircraft and their armament, such as bombs and missiles. We both found it interesting. I had not realised how long some of these planes have been around. For instance the Blackbird, which is the fastest plane around, was designed in 1956 and first flew in 1964. We came home via a huge retail outlet shopping square, where Sally had a really pleasant, but tiring couple of hours, while I went off to Topsail Hill State Preserve, which is preserving some of the dune land area. It was quite windy on the shore. but very beautiful. When Sally had finished shopping we had a coffee in a Panera Bread café. When we got home I made a soup from the ham bone that was left from the joint we bought last Thursday, though we will have enough ham to provide lunch all week.
Monday – We drive round the Bayou and Sally’s birthday
Today is Sally’s birthday, it was a beautiful morning, cool but very clear and still, the bayou was very still, saw a Bald Eagle fishing and several woodpeckers. We went to the local library and used the internet to web cam with the boys and phoned Helen. We talked to Emma and Ben as well, they are growing very fast and responding so well, it was lovely. We then toured the Bayou, on the inland side it is heavily forested, as we approach the sea it becomes dominated by the dunes. The whole area is developed with lots of condo’s and shops everywhere. Even where the sand spit is only a couple of hundred yards wide. It is a very big vacation area. But it is shoppers heaven. It is called The Emerald Coast and we found out why, when we went down to the beach the sea was green, I don’t know why, but it was. The sand was literally snow white and the water emerald green. It was beautiful. We came back across a big toll bridge. The trip round the bayou was more than 70 miles. We wanted to find a good seafood restaurant to celebrate Sally’s birthday, but we are camped about 10 miles from the big tourist centre and settled for a place called Perry’s Legendary Seafood and Steak’s, which was OK, but nothing special, so we are holding Sally’s birthday meal in reserve for when we find a really good restaurant.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Fred Gannon Bayou State Park
Today we have moved on towards the west end of Florida and have arrived safely at Fred Gannon Bayou State Park where we are camped overlooking the Bayou, which is a very large Bay (ou) just about cut off from the sea by huge sand barriers, dunes and spits. A geomorphologist’s dream (as actually is a lot of Florida)
Torreya State Park
This is on the banks of the Apalachicola River Its claim to fame is an antebellum, plantation house (The Gregory House) which belonged to a man called Gregory (there is a surprise) and was built in the 1830’s. Torreya Park is famous (all things are relative) for a very rare pine tree, the Torreya pine. There are only 200 trees left apparently. It grows in the ravines along the banks of the Apalachicola River. Its numbers have dwindled because it has been cut down by man and also been attacked by some bug or virus. Now even when young trees are planted they die off after about 10 years, thus never reaching maturity, aah, shame really.
Back to the Gregory House. It was originally built on the far side of the river, where Gregory was big in the cotton and corn growing business. Although Torreya State Park is now in the middle of nowhere (it is 11 miles to the nearest shop) in the last century, because it was on the Apalachicola River it was a very busy place. The river had some 200 paddle boats in it’s hey day. So it was the equivalent of the M1. However with the advent of the steam train (which went East to West) the river trade (which went from North to South) died out. The house fell empty and was in disrepair until it was given to the park in 1935. The CCC (Civil construction Corps), which was one of the work schemes developed to provide jobs in the Depression, took the house apart and transported it across the river, up the hill and rebuilt it in the State Park. It took nearly four years to complete the move and renovation. They have done a fine job. It is a lovely house with lovely grounds and a lovely view over the Apalachicola River. We took the tour round it, which was very interesting.
It has broadened our understanding of the background to the civil war and slavery in the US. At some time I must set down my thoughts and understandings of this section of American culture/history.
Back to the Gregory House. It was originally built on the far side of the river, where Gregory was big in the cotton and corn growing business. Although Torreya State Park is now in the middle of nowhere (it is 11 miles to the nearest shop) in the last century, because it was on the Apalachicola River it was a very busy place. The river had some 200 paddle boats in it’s hey day. So it was the equivalent of the M1. However with the advent of the steam train (which went East to West) the river trade (which went from North to South) died out. The house fell empty and was in disrepair until it was given to the park in 1935. The CCC (Civil construction Corps), which was one of the work schemes developed to provide jobs in the Depression, took the house apart and transported it across the river, up the hill and rebuilt it in the State Park. It took nearly four years to complete the move and renovation. They have done a fine job. It is a lovely house with lovely grounds and a lovely view over the Apalachicola River. We took the tour round it, which was very interesting.
It has broadened our understanding of the background to the civil war and slavery in the US. At some time I must set down my thoughts and understandings of this section of American culture/history.
And The rain Came Down
In the time we were at Three Rivers more than 10 inches of rain fell (well O.K. some of it was the night before we arrived). As well as our wet day in Tallahassee, the Friday poured with rain, so we stayed near the campground, managing to catch up with emails and blog. Saturday promised to be a much better day, by the time we got underway the sun was shining happily. We were going to a neighbouring State Park – Torreya State Park.
Footnote.
The Apalachicola River (ap-a-latch-i-cola - rolls nicely off the tongue that one, though you have to attack it all in one go). is the dividing line for the two time zones Eastern and Central time, although we did not know this. Three Rivers State Park, where we camped is about 2 miles from the west bank and Torreya State Park is right on the East Bank of the river, so they are in different time zones, even though, because the river bends, Torrreya is actually west of Three Rivers State Park!
Footnote.
The Apalachicola River (ap-a-latch-i-cola - rolls nicely off the tongue that one, though you have to attack it all in one go). is the dividing line for the two time zones Eastern and Central time, although we did not know this. Three Rivers State Park, where we camped is about 2 miles from the west bank and Torreya State Park is right on the East Bank of the river, so they are in different time zones, even though, because the river bends, Torrreya is actually west of Three Rivers State Park!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Up to the Big City
Today it poured with rain, at least 4 inches was recorded at the campground. We took off and went into Tallahassee, Florida’s state capital, for the day. We drove past the Capitol building ( like a mini Capitol, which is in Washington D.C), which is the State’s parliament building. Then we visited a plantation house, called an Antebellum House, which is Latin for Before The War (ante – before and bellum – war). This was really fascina
Plantation houses seem to be built following a particular pattern. As it’s so hot and humid during the summer and, of course, there was no air conditioning, the houses were designed with a wide central hallway on each floor which went from the front to the back with doors or large windows at both ends. The doors/windows could be left open and a cooling breeze would flow through each floor. A grand sweeping staircase would rise from the hall. These hallways were multi purpose. The upstairs one was where the family could relax without being fully dressed – ladies had to wear seven layers before coming downstairs so it must have been a relief to shed a few layers when upstairs- reading, doing embroidery etc. The downstairs hallway was used for similar occupations as well as entertaining visitors. On each side of the hallways would be four or more large rooms also with large windows or French doors to the front and rear and side windows. The doors or windows could be opened to allow cooling breezes through all the rooms. Downstairs rooms were usually a formal dining room, formal sitting room, music room, breakfast room. The kitchen was a separate building to the rear of the house – fear of it setting on fire- and food would be carried into the house and served in the formal dining room. Some large houses had a room in the house where the food could be reheated and arranged before serving. There were no built in cupboards in these houses as there was a tax on each room and a cupboard counted as a room, so they would have very large wardrobes and chests of drawers. There were no bathrooms or toilets either – they had to use chamber pots and washstands.
The houses from the outside looked very grand with extensive grounds, usually with a drive sweeping up to the front. There would be a large covered veranda at the front and usually one at the rear too, which gave plenty of shaded space for sitting outside. They were often painted white.
The plantation house in Tallahassee was started in 1837 by Croom who had come to Florida and started a successful cotton and tobacco business on land he had bought. The only way he could persuade his wife to leave New England was to promise her a mansion. Unfortunately, he and his entire family were drowned in a shipwreck as they were on their way to Florida. His brother took over the business and the mansion. A succession of owners ensured that the house survived the Civil War until it was turned into a museum in the 1950’s. The house was left intact with all it’s furnishings, paintings etc.etc spanning every era from it’s beginning to the 1950’s. It was absolutely fascinating to see how the house had been altered and added to over the years and to see the wonderful collection of fine furniture, porcelain and what nots that had been added to over the years.
ting to visit.
Plantation houses seem to be built following a particular pattern. As it’s so hot and humid during the summer and, of course, there was no air conditioning, the houses were designed with a wide central hallway on each floor which went from the front to the back with doors or large windows at both ends. The doors/windows could be left open and a cooling breeze would flow through each floor. A grand sweeping staircase would rise from the hall. These hallways were multi purpose. The upstairs one was where the family could relax without being fully dressed – ladies had to wear seven layers before coming downstairs so it must have been a relief to shed a few layers when upstairs- reading, doing embroidery etc. The downstairs hallway was used for similar occupations as well as entertaining visitors. On each side of the hallways would be four or more large rooms also with large windows or French doors to the front and rear and side windows. The doors or windows could be opened to allow cooling breezes through all the rooms. Downstairs rooms were usually a formal dining room, formal sitting room, music room, breakfast room. The kitchen was a separate building to the rear of the house – fear of it setting on fire- and food would be carried into the house and served in the formal dining room. Some large houses had a room in the house where the food could be reheated and arranged before serving. There were no built in cupboards in these houses as there was a tax on each room and a cupboard counted as a room, so they would have very large wardrobes and chests of drawers. There were no bathrooms or toilets either – they had to use chamber pots and washstands.
The houses from the outside looked very grand with extensive grounds, usually with a drive sweeping up to the front. There would be a large covered veranda at the front and usually one at the rear too, which gave plenty of shaded space for sitting outside. They were often painted white.
The plantation house in Tallahassee was started in 1837 by Croom who had come to Florida and started a successful cotton and tobacco business on land he had bought. The only way he could persuade his wife to leave New England was to promise her a mansion. Unfortunately, he and his entire family were drowned in a shipwreck as they were on their way to Florida. His brother took over the business and the mansion. A succession of owners ensured that the house survived the Civil War until it was turned into a museum in the 1950’s. The house was left intact with all it’s furnishings, paintings etc.etc spanning every era from it’s beginning to the 1950’s. It was absolutely fascinating to see how the house had been altered and added to over the years and to see the wonderful collection of fine furniture, porcelain and what nots that had been added to over the years.
ting to visit.
To space itself
Lots of things happening in space today. A U.S. warship in the pacific managed to bring down an old spy satellite using missile technology.
At 8.06 a.m. Central time (yes we have moved into the Central Time Zone) the Space Shuttle landed and I was listening out for the characteristic double sonic boom as it passed over us. However, I did not hear it.
Virgin announced that they are ordering 4 more Virgin Galactic Space Planes, because they think that it will be commercially viable.
Also at 9.00p.m. there was a total eclipse of the moon. I assume that it was visible anywhere on the dark part of the Earth, So you would have seen it in UK, although it would have been 3.00 in the morning. Now we did go out and have a look at that. It was fascinating to see the moon without direct sunlight on it. It looked quite red. Because of the shadowing it also takes on a really 3D shape. Took some photo’s but they were a little disappointing as it was difficult to get a sharp picture, partly because with a long exposure time (4 sec) the moon keeps moving. I tried some multi-exposure shots, but trees seemed to get in the way. It took a 2 minute delay between shots for the moon to move one diameter in the sky (yes I know that it is really the Earth rotating, not the moon. Well better luck next time.
At 8.06 a.m. Central time (yes we have moved into the Central Time Zone) the Space Shuttle landed and I was listening out for the characteristic double sonic boom as it passed over us. However, I did not hear it.
Virgin announced that they are ordering 4 more Virgin Galactic Space Planes, because they think that it will be commercially viable.
Also at 9.00p.m. there was a total eclipse of the moon. I assume that it was visible anywhere on the dark part of the Earth, So you would have seen it in UK, although it would have been 3.00 in the morning. Now we did go out and have a look at that. It was fascinating to see the moon without direct sunlight on it. It looked quite red. Because of the shadowing it also takes on a really 3D shape. Took some photo’s but they were a little disappointing as it was difficult to get a sharp picture, partly because with a long exposure time (4 sec) the moon keeps moving. I tried some multi-exposure shots, but trees seemed to get in the way. It took a 2 minute delay between shots for the moon to move one diameter in the sky (yes I know that it is really the Earth rotating, not the moon. Well better luck next time.
From the Depths of the Earth
Today we toured Georgia and Alabama, travelling extensively in them both states, well about 200 metres into each one before turning round and re-crossing the state boundaries. We also visited the Florida Caverns State Park in the town of Marianna. It is a limestone cave system that is open to the public. It was not sufficiently accessible for Sally, but I really enjoyed it. As part of a group we walked for some ¼ mile through a number of caves and chambers looking at all the normal limestone features such as stalactites (the ones that hand) and stalagmites, calcite curtains and pools. The temperature was a steady 64 degrees F, so it was quite warm work. Many of the areas were lit up and displayed very effectively. Marianna is also known as being one of the few ‘dry’ towns in the USA. There are also very few shops and restaurants, I wonder why.
Moving into the Panhandle
On the Monday morning we tackled our longest journey so far. We planned to travel 180 miles into the middle of the Panhandle. We are staying at a small State Park on Lake Seminole, called Three Rivers State Park.
We had to drive through rain, but have arrived in sunshine and have a site right by the lake. It is beautiful. We are ready for a relax for the next few days.
We are only about half a mile from Georgia, across the lake, and about 10 miles from Alabama.
We had to drive through rain, but have arrived in sunshine and have a site right by the lake. It is beautiful. We are ready for a relax for the next few days.
We are only about half a mile from Georgia, across the lake, and about 10 miles from Alabama.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The 32nd re-enactment of the Battle of Olustee
The day started fine and bright. The temperature threatened to reach the 80’s. We drove to Olustee State Park in good time, only to find the road lined with parked cars for about a mile before we reached the park. We parked in the handicapped area and made our way through the park. On either side were the tents and encampments of companies of soldiers and on the main thoroughfare, Sutlers Row, there were many vendors selling civil war memorabilia, clothes and equipment. It was here that we found our old friends the Briar Pickers playing songs from the civil war. We made our way to the battle ground, a rough rectangle, about the size of 4 football pitches, was roped off, with stands along the Southern along side. We found a good place to sit, on about the half way line. I estimate that there were about 20,000 people turned up to see the event At either end artillery was manoeuvring, The Union, Blues, were assembling their cavalry at eh East End, s they were approaching rom Jacksonville on the East Coast. The Confederate, Grays, skirmishers were appearing from the west end, as they approached from their stronghold outside Lake City.
The battle itself consisted of a number of advances and skirmishes by both sides as they could see advantages in moving forward. The South send forward skirmishers, the North replied by sending cavalry. The South replied by forming a square, with bayonets fixed. The North countered by firing cannon at the concentration of troops. The square broke and retreated. The North advanced in line. The south concentrated fire on the flanks. The north was forced to retreat. The South ran short of ammunition and was forced to retire. The South then brought up reserves and more ammunition, from Lake City, and forced the North to retreat again. Both artilleries exhnged shells the whole time. The North, having lost men and also running low on ammunition was eventually forced to retire from the field of action. Following this encounter the Union never ventured out of Jacksonville until the end of the war.
After a deafening final volley we all went home
The battle itself consisted of a number of advances and skirmishes by both sides as they could see advantages in moving forward. The South send forward skirmishers, the North replied by sending cavalry. The South replied by forming a square, with bayonets fixed. The North countered by firing cannon at the concentration of troops. The square broke and retreated. The North advanced in line. The south concentrated fire on the flanks. The north was forced to retreat. The South ran short of ammunition and was forced to retire. The South then brought up reserves and more ammunition, from Lake City, and forced the North to retreat again. Both artilleries exhnged shells the whole time. The North, having lost men and also running low on ammunition was eventually forced to retire from the field of action. Following this encounter the Union never ventured out of Jacksonville until the end of the war.
After a deafening final volley we all went home
Lake City and The re-enactment
Although the Battle of Olustee took place some 14 miles away as the largest town around Lake City has sort of adopted the battle and celebrates it along with the State Park. You may remember that we visited Olustee State Park when we came to the Florida Folk Festival (FFF) last year, Lake City is only about 7 miles from White Springs (Hi Walter, we do remember you) where the FFF is held.
So we are going to join in the fun at Lake City on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday we will go to Olustee State Park to watch the main re-enactment.
Lake City Music Festival
On Thursday evening we went to the School Administration Main Hall and joined the throng to watch Lake City’s finest and best perform. It was a pleasant evening. The main players in the re-enactment were there. The M/C was a local teacher who did a lot of organising for the events. They had a character actor to impersonate Abe Lincoln, though they stressed that the hall, although it had a balcony, did not really constitute a theatre. The evening was a mix of old and new. A veterans entertainment group stirred up the pride by singing a load of patriotic songs, to which we had to stand for some of them. The local high school wind band played, though the musical highlight was the Lake City Community College Band who played a lot of good numbers, mostly jazz style show tunes, they had a couple of good female singers as well. At about half time the Abe Lincoln look-alike was introduced and he then told the tale of the Gettysburg Address, then he delivered the Gettysburg Address, in its entirety (although it is not very long).
Friday was the day of Lake Cities re-enactment. All day there had been people using the stage to entertain us on a stage, local groups and individuals, still it gave a background. Also there were a large number of vendors, each with their 12ft sq gazebo, selling everything from Kettle (pop) corn to bird houses. We found a lovely present for Paula there (no can’t say what it is, she hasn’t got it yet).
The battle activities are in three parts:
1. A re-enactment of the famous sea (or rather estuary) battle between the Merrimac (renamed U.S.S. Virginian, after it was captured from the North) and the U.S.S. Monitor, a floating gun platform.
2. At the same time a detachment of Blues (North) and Grays (South) had a skirmish on the lake side. Using cannon, cavalry and infantry. The combatants loosed their weapons and fired loads of blanks at each other. It was all very noisy and smoky.
3. The local museum put on a little drama whereby they turned the museum into a hospital and we were guided through a number of moving scenarios (either meaning of the word moving) depicting what typically happened to the wounded during the civil war. This was more or less summed up by most of them dying. Interestingly the hospital took in wounded from both sides, but then the surgeon was a woman doctor from the North, while the hospital was in the south!.
So having had fun on Friday we waited for the action to begin on Saturday.
Saturday was the day of the big parade! We got up early and claimed a place on the roadside to await the big parade. The parade consisted of a lot of blues and grays marching, lots of horses and carriages with dignitaries in them and several high school bands. This I must say was a bit of a disappointment. Still the weather was perfect, now up in the 70’s again, with clear blue skies, so it was all good fun.
We had another wander round the vendors and finished up at the Texas Roadhouse for a steak lunch. We are now starting to be a bit more savvy with regards to eating. We ordered a 12 oz rib Eye Steak, with fries and a house salad. We then shared it between us. Sally had most of the salad and I had most of the steak. We were both full, Sally stayed on diet, I had a great steak and it only cost us £10.
We have now returned to the campsite for a relaxing afternoon, before the main battle tomorrow afternoon which is out at Olustee State Park.
So we are going to join in the fun at Lake City on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday we will go to Olustee State Park to watch the main re-enactment.
Lake City Music Festival
On Thursday evening we went to the School Administration Main Hall and joined the throng to watch Lake City’s finest and best perform. It was a pleasant evening. The main players in the re-enactment were there. The M/C was a local teacher who did a lot of organising for the events. They had a character actor to impersonate Abe Lincoln, though they stressed that the hall, although it had a balcony, did not really constitute a theatre. The evening was a mix of old and new. A veterans entertainment group stirred up the pride by singing a load of patriotic songs, to which we had to stand for some of them. The local high school wind band played, though the musical highlight was the Lake City Community College Band who played a lot of good numbers, mostly jazz style show tunes, they had a couple of good female singers as well. At about half time the Abe Lincoln look-alike was introduced and he then told the tale of the Gettysburg Address, then he delivered the Gettysburg Address, in its entirety (although it is not very long).
Friday was the day of Lake Cities re-enactment. All day there had been people using the stage to entertain us on a stage, local groups and individuals, still it gave a background. Also there were a large number of vendors, each with their 12ft sq gazebo, selling everything from Kettle (pop) corn to bird houses. We found a lovely present for Paula there (no can’t say what it is, she hasn’t got it yet).
The battle activities are in three parts:
1. A re-enactment of the famous sea (or rather estuary) battle between the Merrimac (renamed U.S.S. Virginian, after it was captured from the North) and the U.S.S. Monitor, a floating gun platform.
2. At the same time a detachment of Blues (North) and Grays (South) had a skirmish on the lake side. Using cannon, cavalry and infantry. The combatants loosed their weapons and fired loads of blanks at each other. It was all very noisy and smoky.
3. The local museum put on a little drama whereby they turned the museum into a hospital and we were guided through a number of moving scenarios (either meaning of the word moving) depicting what typically happened to the wounded during the civil war. This was more or less summed up by most of them dying. Interestingly the hospital took in wounded from both sides, but then the surgeon was a woman doctor from the North, while the hospital was in the south!.
So having had fun on Friday we waited for the action to begin on Saturday.
Saturday was the day of the big parade! We got up early and claimed a place on the roadside to await the big parade. The parade consisted of a lot of blues and grays marching, lots of horses and carriages with dignitaries in them and several high school bands. This I must say was a bit of a disappointment. Still the weather was perfect, now up in the 70’s again, with clear blue skies, so it was all good fun.
We had another wander round the vendors and finished up at the Texas Roadhouse for a steak lunch. We are now starting to be a bit more savvy with regards to eating. We ordered a 12 oz rib Eye Steak, with fries and a house salad. We then shared it between us. Sally had most of the salad and I had most of the steak. We were both full, Sally stayed on diet, I had a great steak and it only cost us £10.
We have now returned to the campsite for a relaxing afternoon, before the main battle tomorrow afternoon which is out at Olustee State Park.
Moving on to O'leno
We have now packed up and said our farewells to Paula, Connie and Jim, Sandy and Don, as well as a number of other people we have made friends with. We arrived at O’Leno State Park late last night and set up in the dark, thank goodness that the site we had was a fairly easy access. I only had to reverse, more or less, straight. Just avoiding a tree by my front right wheel of the truck and swinging the back of the trailer round the power box, so that the slide out would miss it. It’s funny how we view things differently. I took three goes at getting the right line, then a couple of little goes to get into the right spot. I know that getting the right line is essential to reversing, so it doesn’t worry me to do it several times. But Sally gets really embarrassed when I have to take another go at it. Still my reversing is improving and Sally is improving in letting me take my time over it.
When we woke this morning and opened the blinds we find that we are in the middle of a forest. Sally, lying in bed, watched a large deer pass close to the trailer. We are hoping to take some more time to relax this week, soak up the sun and watch what else the forest has to offer.
When we woke this morning and opened the blinds we find that we are in the middle of a forest. Sally, lying in bed, watched a large deer pass close to the trailer. We are hoping to take some more time to relax this week, soak up the sun and watch what else the forest has to offer.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Great Bluegrass Fake
I am sure that by now you have heard enough about bluegrass, so I have one last incident to relate. I have been playing along with the bluegrass pickin’ circle, mostly with Connie and Paula, who have encouraged me to sing as well as play. However, on the Saturday night, since they were just sitting around, I picked up my guitar and wandered through the campground. I sat in on two jam sessions, played the old rhythm guitar and sang a song when it was my turn in the circle and I really felt that I had managed to con people into thinking that I was part of the bluegrass scene, instead of being a tourist. It left me with a pleasant glow of self satisfaction that I had come into the middle of the bluegrass world and could hold my own in a jam session.
We have now packed up and said our farewells to Paula, Connie and Jim, Sandy and Don, as well as a number of other people we have made friends with. We arrived at O’Leno State Park late last night and set up in the dark, thank goodness that the site we had was a fairly easy access. I only had to reverse, more or less, straight. Just avoiding a tree by my front right wheel of the truck and swinging the back of the trailer round the power box, so that the slide out would miss it. It’s funny how we view things differently. I took three goes at getting the right line, then a couple of little goes to get into the right spot. I know that getting the right line is essential to reversing, so it doesn’t worry me to do it several times. But Sally gets really embarrassed when I have to take another go at it. Still my reversing is improving and Sally is improving in letting me take my time over it.
When we woke this morning and opened the blinds we find that we are in the middle of a forest. Sally, lying in bed, watched a large deer pass close to the trailer. We are hoping to take some more time to relax this week, soak up the sun and watch what else the forest has to offer.
We have now packed up and said our farewells to Paula, Connie and Jim, Sandy and Don, as well as a number of other people we have made friends with. We arrived at O’Leno State Park late last night and set up in the dark, thank goodness that the site we had was a fairly easy access. I only had to reverse, more or less, straight. Just avoiding a tree by my front right wheel of the truck and swinging the back of the trailer round the power box, so that the slide out would miss it. It’s funny how we view things differently. I took three goes at getting the right line, then a couple of little goes to get into the right spot. I know that getting the right line is essential to reversing, so it doesn’t worry me to do it several times. But Sally gets really embarrassed when I have to take another go at it. Still my reversing is improving and Sally is improving in letting me take my time over it.
When we woke this morning and opened the blinds we find that we are in the middle of a forest. Sally, lying in bed, watched a large deer pass close to the trailer. We are hoping to take some more time to relax this week, soak up the sun and watch what else the forest has to offer.
About the Bluegrass Festival
I still, after several attempts, don’t feel that I have adequately explained Bluegrass Festivals and I suppose, with my limited literary skill, I never will. The central activity of a bluegrass festival is the concerts. Here there are three days of concerts, each concert is split into 2 parts, before supper and after supper. Each half has a line up of 5 or 6 bands, each does a set of 45 minutes, which usually lasts an hour. Then they do a second set in the evening half. In this festival there are 3 completely different line-ups each day. With bigger and bigger name acts. So the festival may involve watching up to 10 hours of top line bands each day, which of course you can’t do. So you have to choose who you will not watch, so that you can take a break, look at the vendors around the place, talk to people, do some ‘pickin’, or just resting. Some of the music is traditional (mountain) bluegrass and some of it you may call modern, even swing, or jazz. Bluegrass music is about love, death and family, but there is a huge input of gospel music, most bands aspire to produce a gospel CD. No solo artists, but lot of close and three part harmony amongst groups, which can produce some amazing music. Often it slips into the areas of Country music, so the songs tend to be a bit sugary (no, very sugary). Often music will be a tribute to the armed forces. In two days bands asked serving men and veterans to stand and be applauded, bet it happens again today). One group, called The Isaacs, when called to do an encore (they are an exceptionally talented group) sung an amazing version of the Star Spangled Banner. To which everyone stood with pride!!
As I continue this on Monday morning, I Was correct, There was another call for the armed forces to be acknowledged and respected. This time it was by a band called the US Navy Bluegrass/Current Country band. Yes they are all in the navy and are paid by the navy to play bluegrass (a bit like Forest Gump and ping pong). However, they are also very good musicians. So at one point they played a medley of the forces anthems and asked serving and vets to stand as each arm of the forces was highlighted, it was quite moving. Incidentally, there are 5 sections to the US Armed forces, as well as air, army, and navy there is also the marines and surprisingly the coastguard. (Carl, who married our niece was in the coastguard)
This was the festival line up, for all you aficionados:
Thursday: The Grascals, Dailey and Vincent, The Gary Waldrop Band, James King, Paul Williams and the Victory Trio
Friday: The Isaacs, The Gibson Brothers, Carolina Sonshine, Doyle Lawson, Blue Highway and Goldwing Express
Saturday: Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, The US Navy Band, Nothin’ Fancy and The Lewis Family.
In my opinion the best band was bluegrass gospel band The Isaacs, their music is beautifully thought out, their harmonies exquisite and their voices amazing. Two sisters, a brother and mother, as well as a fiddle and bongo (?) player.
As I continue this on Monday morning, I Was correct, There was another call for the armed forces to be acknowledged and respected. This time it was by a band called the US Navy Bluegrass/Current Country band. Yes they are all in the navy and are paid by the navy to play bluegrass (a bit like Forest Gump and ping pong). However, they are also very good musicians. So at one point they played a medley of the forces anthems and asked serving and vets to stand as each arm of the forces was highlighted, it was quite moving. Incidentally, there are 5 sections to the US Armed forces, as well as air, army, and navy there is also the marines and surprisingly the coastguard. (Carl, who married our niece was in the coastguard)
This was the festival line up, for all you aficionados:
Thursday: The Grascals, Dailey and Vincent, The Gary Waldrop Band, James King, Paul Williams and the Victory Trio
Friday: The Isaacs, The Gibson Brothers, Carolina Sonshine, Doyle Lawson, Blue Highway and Goldwing Express
Saturday: Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, The US Navy Band, Nothin’ Fancy and The Lewis Family.
In my opinion the best band was bluegrass gospel band The Isaacs, their music is beautifully thought out, their harmonies exquisite and their voices amazing. Two sisters, a brother and mother, as well as a fiddle and bongo (?) player.
Palatka Bluegrass Festival
The trouble with Bluegrass festivals is that there is so little time to sit and reflect, or write a blog. We arrived on Wednesday and already it is Saturday! We drove up in convoy with Connie and Jim and Paula arrived a bit later. We were so pleased that on the Thursday our friends Don and Sandra, who we had met at Arcadia, arrived for the festival. It was a happy reunion and we were pleased that we could introduce our friends to each other.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Being Amongst Friends
Sunday was time to move on. We have come to Belleview, to Connie and Jim’s house, where they have some hook-ups. We are staying here until Wednesday, when we plan to go to Palatka for a bluegrass festival.
But first the Big Game. Superbowl CX11, I think that is roman for 42, now there is a significant number, also known as 10101010, so JP tells me. Anyway, tonight the New England Patriots, who have won every game this season (17) were set to crush the New York Giants who are rank outsiders, so far outside so as you couldn’t even hear them. They got through to the playoffs as a ‘wild card’, so they didn’t even qualify through the games they won. So guess who won. Yep, Giants trounced the Patriots 17 to 14. It was such a close game that we even watched it right to the end!
We have stayed with Connie and Jim for two days now, yesterday we had a lie in, went for a mooch around the local Publix, to stock up food for the week, then took Connie and Jim and Paula to eat at Sam’s Seafood Restaurant, I have never seen so many prawns on skewers. It was a lovely meal.
Today we didn’t have so much of a lie in, I have spent a lot of time updating the Ridings Website. We now have the dates and information for the Meetings this year, I eventually finished that. Connie’s son-in-law’s brother, wife and mother came over to see Connie and Jim, so we went out to Sonny’s Ribs reataurant, where we ate Pork ribs till they cam out of our ears (no not literally).
This afternoon Sally set about correcting some of the awful workmanship of the trailer builders by taking off all the cushion and seat covers and using Connie’s sewing machine to reinforce every seam. I meanwhile went with Connie t get supplies for the Palatka festival at ‘Sams’, a cash and carry owned by Wal-Mart. So you can buy everything you get at Wal-Mart, but in bulk and at a discount. Very interesting.
Hopefully when Sally finishes the cushion covers we will get a relax in the outdoor spa and jacquoozie (I don’t know how to spell it). Rrelaxing under the stars in the hot water, with the old bubble machine going. I will tell later whether it was as good as it sounds.
But first the Big Game. Superbowl CX11, I think that is roman for 42, now there is a significant number, also known as 10101010, so JP tells me. Anyway, tonight the New England Patriots, who have won every game this season (17) were set to crush the New York Giants who are rank outsiders, so far outside so as you couldn’t even hear them. They got through to the playoffs as a ‘wild card’, so they didn’t even qualify through the games they won. So guess who won. Yep, Giants trounced the Patriots 17 to 14. It was such a close game that we even watched it right to the end!
We have stayed with Connie and Jim for two days now, yesterday we had a lie in, went for a mooch around the local Publix, to stock up food for the week, then took Connie and Jim and Paula to eat at Sam’s Seafood Restaurant, I have never seen so many prawns on skewers. It was a lovely meal.
Today we didn’t have so much of a lie in, I have spent a lot of time updating the Ridings Website. We now have the dates and information for the Meetings this year, I eventually finished that. Connie’s son-in-law’s brother, wife and mother came over to see Connie and Jim, so we went out to Sonny’s Ribs reataurant, where we ate Pork ribs till they cam out of our ears (no not literally).
This afternoon Sally set about correcting some of the awful workmanship of the trailer builders by taking off all the cushion and seat covers and using Connie’s sewing machine to reinforce every seam. I meanwhile went with Connie t get supplies for the Palatka festival at ‘Sams’, a cash and carry owned by Wal-Mart. So you can buy everything you get at Wal-Mart, but in bulk and at a discount. Very interesting.
Hopefully when Sally finishes the cushion covers we will get a relax in the outdoor spa and jacquoozie (I don’t know how to spell it). Rrelaxing under the stars in the hot water, with the old bubble machine going. I will tell later whether it was as good as it sounds.
The Hog Roast Meet
We have come back to the Soggy Bottom Bluegrass Club to take part in their annual Hog Roast. We now seem to be like old timers. We waited with anticipation for Paula, Connie and Jim and Brenda and Dave to arrive. When they did we were again given a heartwarming welcome. It was as though we had never been away. Connie again wanted to submerge us in an All American Cookout.This is a festive weekend, celebrating nothing in particular. This is now a traditional event, having been done for the last 24 years. It is also Soggy Bottoms most popular event. The central event is the roasting of a pig. However all through the weekend there is a lot of talkin’, pickin’ and drinkin’. I set out with the guitar on Friday morning. Sat outside a trailer with a man called Russ and Frank, who was from he trailer next to us. They both play dobro (Slide guitar). We picked for a few minutes then moved up to a covered area (The Pavilion).
We played for a bit and were joined by a banjo player. Then a bass player joined us. Followed by Michelle, a banjo player. Soon there were 2 mandolins, another guitar and another dobro player. We played a whole range of tunes and songs, most of them simple three chord progressions, but with a lot of lead breaks in there as well. 
It was great fun. I backed out after about 2 hours to get lunch. Although there is no central concert there is some amazing playing that goes on around peoples campfires. I saw one group, it was a scratch band, but they were really good. They stood in a tight horseshoe shape, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, bass, lead guitar and played music which varied from bluegrass through swing to jazz. In the middle was a chair. People took turns to sit in the chair and just listen to this band in surround sound. About 12.30 on the Saturday night, while wandering around I came across a small group of players, three guitars, banjo and bass. They were just playing modern jazz, sounded weird, but incredible. About 50 yards from them was an open session made up of girls (of all ages). Just across the little creek was a campfire with predominantly young people. Their idea of a campfire was to bring a tree stump (about 18inches wide by 3ft high) in on the back of a pickup and burn it (they were sort of in charge of roasting the pig). They did nothing but shout laugh ‘whoop’ and drink homemade ‘shots’ and eat ‘puddings’. Shots are m ore or less neat alcohol + a flavour. Puddings are made up. The recipe varies but is usually miracle whip (like Angel Delight), cream and some sort of alcohol. The mix is then dispensed into little plastic pots similar to the milk cartons you get in café’s these days. These are then carried round from campfire to campfire then shared, or used as forfeits. However they were very friendly and harmless (mostly).
Roasting a Hog.
Roasting a hog sounds quite straight forward, but of course it isn’t.
There are a whole raft of things to do and specialist people to do them. I shall try and explain the basics of this.
The Hog roast is for about 200 people, so first off (American expression) one hog (pig) ain’t enough, so they roast one pig but buy in a load of pork joints. These are called ‘Pork Butts’.
The pig must be prepared, by a preparation team. It is slit down the stomach and ‘bits’ removed and cleaned, then stuffed with secret spices and sour oranges. It then has a scaffold pole pushed from one end to the other. 
It is then skewered on to the pole by what seemed to be about 10 long bolts. Then wire mesh is wrapped round it. This is to hold it together when it cooks.
The pole is suspended over a large charcoal fire inside a huge BBQ. An electric motor is used to rotate the pole. The hog was set roasting at about 4.00 on the Friday afternoon. It is then watched over by a team of Hog Watchers, who make sure that it doesn’t get to hot, but has a good supply of coals. 
It cooks for about 20 hours, in that time the skin burns and the legs burn off as well. Then is allowed to cool for about 4 hours, so that it can be handled. Meanwhile a team of Butt Rubbers are employed toseason the pork joints, which are then cooked in another large BBQ. This year they cooked 28 pork butts. I suggested that they may like their own T-shirt with ‘Hoggy Bottom Rubbers’(rather than Soggy Bottom) on it.
There are a whole raft of things to do and specialist people to do them. I shall try and explain the basics of this.
The Hog roast is for about 200 people, so first off (American expression) one hog (pig) ain’t enough, so they roast one pig but buy in a load of pork joints. These are called ‘Pork Butts’.
The pig must be prepared, by a preparation team. It is slit down the stomach and ‘bits’ removed and cleaned, then stuffed with secret spices and sour oranges. It then has a scaffold pole pushed from one end to the other. It is then skewered on to the pole by what seemed to be about 10 long bolts. Then wire mesh is wrapped round it. This is to hold it together when it cooks.The pole is suspended over a large charcoal fire inside a huge BBQ. An electric motor is used to rotate the pole. The hog was set roasting at about 4.00 on the Friday afternoon. It is then watched over by a team of Hog Watchers, who make sure that it doesn’t get to hot, but has a good supply of coals. It cooks for about 20 hours, in that time the skin burns and the legs burn off as well. Then is allowed to cool for about 4 hours, so that it can be handled. Meanwhile a team of Butt Rubbers are employed toseason the pork joints, which are then cooked in another large BBQ. This year they cooked 28 pork butts. I suggested that they may like their own T-shirt with ‘Hoggy Bottom Rubbers’(rather than Soggy Bottom) on it.
Band Scramble
A new activity for the Soggy Bottomers was the ‘Band Scramble’. First invented by Connie and Jim at their Harpers Hideaway weekend. 6 pots are put out, one for each instrument (guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, dobro and bass), you write your name on a slip of paper and put it in the pot of your choice. Names are pulled out at random and lo a new band is formed. We have 1 hour to choose music and practice, then all meet together for an impromptu concert. Each band had 13 minutes of performance. We had a stage, P.A. and everything. There were 7 bands, though some had more than one of each instrument. Once the band line ups were put up we all met together at a trailer and pulled out some tunes. We chose Ragtime Annie (fiddle lead), Have You Lost All The Love? (song by bass player, Christie), The Lighthouse (sung by Ed, the other guitarist) and Foggy Mountain Breakdown (Banjo lead). Lots of people thought we were really good (others just kept quiet). This was just an excellent afternoon. It really gave a chance for people to mix together.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Oh for the Simple life
Monday Evening.
Picked up another Chance Card!
Bates RV had said they would put the Trailer onto our site at Tampa East (next door to them). But they didn’t. Oops!
We had to deploy a back up bonus card and stay at a local motel for the night. Motel 6
Not bad, this meant we were forced to go to the Waffle House for breakfast. Surprisingly it was quite yummy. They cooked the food right there in front of you and though it was simple it was good.
Fortified by breakfast we entered the fray at Bates RV.
What ensued there could so easily be full of meaningful detail, but would probably appear quite trite. Sufficient to say that we were underwhelmed by their communication skills and organisational capability. The trouble is that the people who work in the Service Department are really very nice. But their receptionists cannot remember to pass on messages. Their body shop workers, while keeping themselves in a job by damaging panels of our trailer against a wall could not actually fix all the parts, leaving work to be done on the repair, because he forgot that he had damaged one of the trims at the same time. Doh!. They have an ordering system by which given a choice of two sofa’s to replace, because of faulty upholstery material, cannot, even after writing it down about four times, order the correct one! So we have a brand new sofa to replace the one which was not damaged. But they are now going to have to chase us up country to replace the defective one. But a work record system which lost our snagging list about three times, leaving them asking us what they were supposed to be doing! But bless them, they do try. Linda, the manager, when we told her what had happened (she, being the manager said, and I can believe it, she knew nothing of the arrangement to place the trailer at Tampa East, even though we had made the arrangement with her in December. She wondered why we had not phoned on the Monday to remind them. I pointed out that we could have phoned at 5.00 in the morning when we took off from Manchester, but felt that no one would be really interested at that time. We had phoned on the Friday and spoken to Richard (he’s the one that looks like the guy in ‘fifty first date’, is it Adam Sandler?) to remind him. He said OK sure thing, no trouble.) So he is not in on Tuesday (can you blame him), so Linda phones him and says “I have Mr and Mrs Phillippe here, they want to tell you how much they enjoyed staying in a motel last night”. Truthfully though, they did refund our motel cost, which was nice. Meanwhile, this all happened in Linda’s office, and a dear sweet receptionist, who kept saying that Linda was bearable after a good cup of coffee (I am not sure who was supposed to drink the coffee), was trying to calm the waters by making everyone (well Linda really) a coffee, also in her office, however having the standard skills of a BatesRV receptionist, she had no idea how to make ground coffee, so half way through our conversation we could see the coffee boil over, flooding the desk, wall and floor of Linda’s office with strong coffee and grounds, which when we pointed it out to them took three technicians (RV menders really) and a receptionist to stop the flood. French Farce was one theme that kept passing through my brain. We went out to the trailer and went through the snagging list again, and admired the nice new ladder they had fitted. It is strongly attached to the back bumper, the rear walls of the trailer and the roof itself (this was nice and they had done it very cheaply for us. You don’t realise how much of a comfort it is to know that I can get up on the roof now, I certainly sleep easier). One of them tested it first and it seemed OK, so we were happy with that. Good job done.
Anyway, we seem to have got most things sorted out (apart from the sofa which will be delivered some time in March, oh and the electric hot water heater (which died on us in October, which after several hours of them saying “it works” and us saying “it doesn’t” they admitted had been recalled and we would get a new one anyway), which they will refit at the same time). So we said a temporary goodbye and took the trailer on round to Tampa East RV.
As we were just leaving one of the guys, Billy, who is very nice and seems to know what he is talking about, came over somewhat sheepishly over, though I figured he came to say goodbye (because they are all right neighbourly) carrying a nice new sewer hose kit, nice red one, with the 90 degree bend and two lengths of hose that clip together, still in its box. I said “Hi Billy, we are just off, we’ll see you. Do you know we’ve got a sewer hose just like that one”. He said “Yep, I know that, this one is for you, because, you see, as we were fitting the ladder we had to drill through the bumper to fix the ladder to it”. What, good readers from England, you may not know, but which every RV’er in the States knows, (except apparently those who fit ladders to the rear of RV’s) is that the rear bumper is hollow and you use it to store your sewer hose. So we now have a brand new sewer hose, unfortunately at the moment we can’t store it in the correct place because there are 2 large bolts stopping us putting it away.
So today (Wed) as we are packing up to leave, Good Old Matt arrives with a piece of trim (you remember the trim?), which he has lovingly removed from another Starcraft Trailer, and proceeds to fit it while we are packing away. Still, job done!
Moving on to Sertoma
We packed up our trailer and have moved on to Sertoma Youth Ranch. Some loyal readers may remember that we stayed here last November for the Thanksgiving Bluegrass Meet and then stayed on to join The Soggy Bottom Bluegrass Bunch. We have now returned to join in with their Hog Roast Weekend.
While on the road we saw a fascinating sight. We stopped for lunch at a roadside pull in, a bit like a motorway service centre, but with no petrol station or café. Very similar to the Aires they have on French motorways.
We stopped in the truck section, so that it is easy to park. We were close by a couple of low loaders, each with half a large mobile home on them. As we stopped we noticed that there was a pick up truck which was stopped off the paved area, half hidden in the dense undergrowth and trees. It seemed a strange place to leave a truck. In fact we both commented on it at the same time. As we sat there the driver of one of the trucks and a woman came round from behind the mobile home. They threw there arms up and ran for the truck. It seems that they had got out of the truck and walked away without putting the brakes on. The truck had rolled away, over the edge of the car park and off into the trees. Fortunately nothing but their pride was damaged. They looked very sheepish as they reversed the truck out, clearing braches and leaves from the front. The only casualty was the big flag they have to carry on the front bumper. The pole was badly bent and the flag had ripped off in the undergrowth. This made for a very entertaining lunch.
We arrived at Sertoma in good time and were greeted enthusiastically by Karen, the manager, who greeted us like long lost friends. Yes, it is nice to be back.
Picked up another Chance Card!
Bates RV had said they would put the Trailer onto our site at Tampa East (next door to them). But they didn’t. Oops!
We had to deploy a back up bonus card and stay at a local motel for the night. Motel 6
Not bad, this meant we were forced to go to the Waffle House for breakfast. Surprisingly it was quite yummy. They cooked the food right there in front of you and though it was simple it was good.
Fortified by breakfast we entered the fray at Bates RV.
What ensued there could so easily be full of meaningful detail, but would probably appear quite trite. Sufficient to say that we were underwhelmed by their communication skills and organisational capability. The trouble is that the people who work in the Service Department are really very nice. But their receptionists cannot remember to pass on messages. Their body shop workers, while keeping themselves in a job by damaging panels of our trailer against a wall could not actually fix all the parts, leaving work to be done on the repair, because he forgot that he had damaged one of the trims at the same time. Doh!. They have an ordering system by which given a choice of two sofa’s to replace, because of faulty upholstery material, cannot, even after writing it down about four times, order the correct one! So we have a brand new sofa to replace the one which was not damaged. But they are now going to have to chase us up country to replace the defective one. But a work record system which lost our snagging list about three times, leaving them asking us what they were supposed to be doing! But bless them, they do try. Linda, the manager, when we told her what had happened (she, being the manager said, and I can believe it, she knew nothing of the arrangement to place the trailer at Tampa East, even though we had made the arrangement with her in December. She wondered why we had not phoned on the Monday to remind them. I pointed out that we could have phoned at 5.00 in the morning when we took off from Manchester, but felt that no one would be really interested at that time. We had phoned on the Friday and spoken to Richard (he’s the one that looks like the guy in ‘fifty first date’, is it Adam Sandler?) to remind him. He said OK sure thing, no trouble.) So he is not in on Tuesday (can you blame him), so Linda phones him and says “I have Mr and Mrs Phillippe here, they want to tell you how much they enjoyed staying in a motel last night”. Truthfully though, they did refund our motel cost, which was nice. Meanwhile, this all happened in Linda’s office, and a dear sweet receptionist, who kept saying that Linda was bearable after a good cup of coffee (I am not sure who was supposed to drink the coffee), was trying to calm the waters by making everyone (well Linda really) a coffee, also in her office, however having the standard skills of a BatesRV receptionist, she had no idea how to make ground coffee, so half way through our conversation we could see the coffee boil over, flooding the desk, wall and floor of Linda’s office with strong coffee and grounds, which when we pointed it out to them took three technicians (RV menders really) and a receptionist to stop the flood. French Farce was one theme that kept passing through my brain. We went out to the trailer and went through the snagging list again, and admired the nice new ladder they had fitted. It is strongly attached to the back bumper, the rear walls of the trailer and the roof itself (this was nice and they had done it very cheaply for us. You don’t realise how much of a comfort it is to know that I can get up on the roof now, I certainly sleep easier). One of them tested it first and it seemed OK, so we were happy with that. Good job done.
Anyway, we seem to have got most things sorted out (apart from the sofa which will be delivered some time in March, oh and the electric hot water heater (which died on us in October, which after several hours of them saying “it works” and us saying “it doesn’t” they admitted had been recalled and we would get a new one anyway), which they will refit at the same time). So we said a temporary goodbye and took the trailer on round to Tampa East RV.
As we were just leaving one of the guys, Billy, who is very nice and seems to know what he is talking about, came over somewhat sheepishly over, though I figured he came to say goodbye (because they are all right neighbourly) carrying a nice new sewer hose kit, nice red one, with the 90 degree bend and two lengths of hose that clip together, still in its box. I said “Hi Billy, we are just off, we’ll see you. Do you know we’ve got a sewer hose just like that one”. He said “Yep, I know that, this one is for you, because, you see, as we were fitting the ladder we had to drill through the bumper to fix the ladder to it”. What, good readers from England, you may not know, but which every RV’er in the States knows, (except apparently those who fit ladders to the rear of RV’s) is that the rear bumper is hollow and you use it to store your sewer hose. So we now have a brand new sewer hose, unfortunately at the moment we can’t store it in the correct place because there are 2 large bolts stopping us putting it away.
So today (Wed) as we are packing up to leave, Good Old Matt arrives with a piece of trim (you remember the trim?), which he has lovingly removed from another Starcraft Trailer, and proceeds to fit it while we are packing away. Still, job done!
Moving on to Sertoma
We packed up our trailer and have moved on to Sertoma Youth Ranch. Some loyal readers may remember that we stayed here last November for the Thanksgiving Bluegrass Meet and then stayed on to join The Soggy Bottom Bluegrass Bunch. We have now returned to join in with their Hog Roast Weekend.
While on the road we saw a fascinating sight. We stopped for lunch at a roadside pull in, a bit like a motorway service centre, but with no petrol station or café. Very similar to the Aires they have on French motorways.
We stopped in the truck section, so that it is easy to park. We were close by a couple of low loaders, each with half a large mobile home on them. As we stopped we noticed that there was a pick up truck which was stopped off the paved area, half hidden in the dense undergrowth and trees. It seemed a strange place to leave a truck. In fact we both commented on it at the same time. As we sat there the driver of one of the trucks and a woman came round from behind the mobile home. They threw there arms up and ran for the truck. It seems that they had got out of the truck and walked away without putting the brakes on. The truck had rolled away, over the edge of the car park and off into the trees. Fortunately nothing but their pride was damaged. They looked very sheepish as they reversed the truck out, clearing braches and leaves from the front. The only casualty was the big flag they have to carry on the front bumper. The pole was badly bent and the flag had ripped off in the undergrowth. This made for a very entertaining lunch.
We arrived at Sertoma in good time and were greeted enthusiastically by Karen, the manager, who greeted us like long lost friends. Yes, it is nice to be back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)