Getting Ready for 2015

With 22 days, 17 hours, and 13 minutes till January 19th, 2015, I thought I'd bring my blog a step closer with a mini-update. I have an app that is providing me with those details...but, as they say, who's counting? Poof! Christmas has come and gone.  My family is healthy and fortunate.  Although Winnie didn't provide Santa Claus with any goodies to fill her cabin, I must say she fared well with gifts that will be put to good use.  Gizmos, gadgets, and whatcha-ma-call-its, I love 'em all.

(I helped out with a few items on my Amazon Wish List.)  Allow me to share what thoughtful friends and relatives surprised Winnie with.  I hope you can read the small text in each photo above the captions where I put my expression of thanks for each:

Low setting of LED will last over 48 hours on one charge;
will charge from laptop and charge iPhone & iPad with
its own built in USB port.  Nice!

Measurements above are for December 27, 2014
 Max/Min button will be interesting come January.

Very sharp; both in appearance & funtionality

"Home is Wherever We Roam"
A special ornament from a special couple.
It will hang in Winnie in all seasons

Can't wait to use in Winnie.  I'm all for
pleasant, soothing scents.

Yes, this will be placed right next to my magnetic SHU
in honor of two special ladies in my life.

These handy miniature gadgets will give the
impression that I know how to use them.
We shall see.

Doubt this will be used down south BUT, I sure
could have used it this past November while
camping.

Ah, so. Sushi for two?  Cholly-son
will put these to good use.....that is, if
they allow me to bring them into the
restaurant.  If not, my companion will
have to enjoy sushi with me in Winnie.

And it really works!!!  How annoying is it to get
up every couple of minutes to nuke your a.m.
coffee.  No more.  There is a "low" and "high"
setting but mine will always be on "high."

I'll need to be "settled in" to use
this very useful accessory.

Will no doubt need these to keep that rug down
during the wind/rain storms

Thank you, Me

I started Book 1, The Way of Kings, of the Brandon Sanderson Series, The Stormlight Archives.  Book 2, Words of Radiance, is due in March, 2015.  With 1,252 pages waiting for me, it'll take me that long to read it.

So there you have it.  And again, a very appreciative 'thank you' to all my friends and family.  I am a very fortunate person.  I have been visiting Winnie in Cross River every two weeks to run the Mercedes and the generator for about twenty minutes.  I'll make two more visits and begin loading non-perishables with each trip.

My next blog will be from Cherrystone Campground in Cape Charles, VA, January 19, 2015.  It will contain my finalized 34-day itinerary.  Until then, I wish all who have taken the time to read my blogs a very Happy New Year and wish all good things, health first and foremost, for you and your loved ones.

Final Updated 2015 Itinerary - And Last Blog Entry

On October 23rd, I sketched out my anticipated, planned itinerary south beginning January 19th and returning February 22nd; a total of 35 days and a drive of 3,263 mile.  Well, it is now as complete as it's going to be with all reservations made and deposits paid.  All reservations complete, that is, except for one stop (2/12th - 2/15th) that I cannot reserve until December 1st.

I think I will make this my last post as tomorrow is my last day.  I will introduce a new blog post on the evening of January 21st, 2015.  It will contain this same chart below and we'll go from there.  Have a safe and warm winter; stay healthy and happy and let me be the very first to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, a holy Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

DATE	DAY	CAMPGROUND & ADDRESS	TRAVEL TIME
1/19/15 1/20/15 Leave 1/21	Mon Tue Wed	Cherrystone Campground 1511 Townfield Drive Cape Charles, VA 23310	From Cross River: 369 miles - 6+ hours
2 days
1/21/15 1/22/15 Leave 1/23	Wed Thu Fri	Lanier's Campground 1161 Spot Lane Holly Ridge, NC 28445	From Cherrystone: 261 miles - 4 hrs 41 min
4
1/23/15 1/24/15 1/25/15 Leave 1/26	Fri Sat Sun Mon	Hilton Head Harbor RV Resort 43 Jenkins Road Hilton Head Island, SC 29926	From Lanier's Campground: 327 miles - 5 hours
7
1/26/15 1/27/15 Leave 1/28	Mon Tue Wed	Nova Campground 1190 Herbert St. Port Orange, FL 32129	From Hilton Head Harbor: 268 miles - 4 hrs
9
1/28/15 1/29/15 1/30/15 1/31/15 2/1/15 2/2/15 Leave 2/3	Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue	Elite Resorts at Citrus Valley 16246 Citrus Parkway Clermont, FL 34714	From Nova Campground 85 miles - 1 hr 30 min Ray & Kathy Craig & Trish Vicki & George
15
2/3/15 2/4/15 2/5/15 2/6/15 2/7/15 2/8/15 Leave 2/9	Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon	Del-Raton RV 2998 S. Federal Hwy Del Ray Beach FL 33483 Enterprise Rent-a-Car across street 2805 S Federal Hwy	From Elite Resorts: 194 miles - 3 hours Jim & Missie Scott & Kori Norma
21
DATE	DAY	CAMPGROUND & ADDRESS	TRAVEL TIME
2/9/15 2/10/15 2/11/15 Leave 2/12	Mon Tue Wed Thu	Key Largo Kampground 101551 Overseas Highway Key Largo, FL 33037-4546	From Del Ray Beach 112 miles - 2 hours GPS=Samson Road, Key Largo FL
24		Return Trip
2/12/15 2/13/15 2/14/15 Leave 2/15	Thu Fri Sat Sun	Carefree RV at Daytona Beach (OR Nova if not available) 4601 S Clyde Morris Blvd Port Orange, FL 32129 (OR Emerald Shores Hotel)	From Key Largo: 311 miles - 4 hrs 45 min Make reservations 12/1/14
27
2/15/15 2/16/15 2/17/15 Leave 2/18	Sun Mon Tue Wed	Roger & Wendy 11 Orchid Lane Bluffton, SC	From Port Orange, FL: 259 miles - 3 hrs 45 min
30
2/18/15 2/19/15 Leave 2/20	Wed Thu Fri	Lakewood Camping Resort 5901 S. Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach, SC 29575	From Sun City, SC 178 miles - 3 hours 30 min.
32
2/20/15 2/21/15 Leave 2/22	Fri Sat Sun	Holiday Trav-L-Park 1075 General Booth Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA 23451	From Myrtle Beach, SC 358 miles - 5 hours 45 min.
34
2/22/15	Sun	Winnie Storage 853 Rte 35 Cross River, NY	From Virginia Beach, VA 429 miles - 7.5 hours
34 days		Four States	3,263 miles driven

Yes, I know.  Lot o' Luck.  I am not thinking (yet) of the variables and unforeseen circumstances that go with this detailed planning.  I do know they exist so I'm going into this blind:  Weather (beginning with January 21st), Road Conditions/Detours, and Breakdowns just to mention a few.  Perhaps I should entitled this post: "Suggested Itinerary" and not tempt fate or Murphy.....but then we shouldn't go through life with that negative thinking with its "what if's" and "supposin's"; we'd never accomplish anything.  Better to go with the flow and hope for the best but anticipate the worst.  Simple.

My Season Will End with a Howl & a Brrrr

Whoa!  What a night for Winnie and me as we were buffeted with 35 mph winds that sent the wind chill temp down to 30 degrees.  Inside?  Cozy warm.  I turned back the clock one hour, slipped into bed to read, and finally dozed off.  I awoke well rested as the winds shook the RV only to find I napped for two hours.  It was 1:15 am and I was wide awake.  With my new Retiree's Clock and Vicki's motto in mind ("When the day of the week is more important than the hour of the day.") I got up and sort of started the day disregarding the time.  I've learned early in my retirement that you don't have to "fight" to get to sleep; there'll be time to "catch up".  Hot coffee and oatmeal with raisins hit the spot as I checked the depressing news on line, played games, and checked financials and email.  Then about 4:30 am or so, I got drowsy, crawled back under the covers and slept till 7:30; now it's business as usual.

First thing I wanted to do was capture Mother Nature doing her thing.  I seem to remember each year, near the end of the time when leaves change, there's always a few days of high winds.  I think Mother Nature pushes along those straggling dead leaves still attached to branches to clean up and prepare for the snow that will cover those very same branches.

And today?  Weather statement says:

..

STRONG WINDS TODAY AND COLD TEMPERATURES TONIGHT... 

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING... 

FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 8 AM EST MONDAY 

* HAZARDS...STRONG WINDS TODAY AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES TONIGHT. 

* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 30 TONIGHT. 

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. 

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS TODAY. FREEZING TEMPERATURES LATE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. 

I am not optimistic about the video above playing as it should nor was I with the video of the goslings chasing their "mommy" in yesterday's post.  No one has mentioned whether it did or it didn't so I don't know.  Another thing noticed about this blog site is that folks who use Internet Explorer to read these posts see a much different view than those using Chrome.  Any feedback would be appreciated.  Thanks.