Beach, Friends, Electric, Relatives and Fiberglass again

Thursday February 20, 2013 & Friday February 21, 2013
Oscar Scherer State Park  Site 63
Osprey Florida

 

THURSDAY

Back to the Beach.

 

 

 

I know you won’t be surprised to find out that I went back to Nokomis beach today in spite of the crowds.  I just love being in that water and hearing those waves washing up on the shore. 

The colors of the water and the sky here are always beautiful and varying shades of blue.   Many people are hunting intently for sharks teeth on the shore today too.

 

 

The crowds are definitely still here and yet another person tells me this is winter break “up North”.  But I still think that lots of people just got plain sick of SO much cold weather and created a February Florida vacation for themselves to get a break.  Hopefully Spring will be close by the time they return home.

 

 

 

The Casual Vacancy.

While there I finished J. K. Rowling’s book The Casual Vacancy.  I’d heard a lot of mixed reviews about it.  It’s certainly nothing like her Harry Potter series and it seems unfair to judge it against those.  It’s an Adult novel.   I personally found it interesting and not difficult to read.  It seemed very real in the most hardscrabble use of that word.  

Small town life in Britain seems as mean and stifling as it does to some in this country.    I found myself wishing I could gather up my former book group to discuss it with.  Particularly I’d like to discuss the characters.  Were there villains and heroes?  Did you find yourself siding with some in particular?   Did you switch back and forth?  My sister-in-law thought it was pretty dark and it was. But so were the last of the Harry Potter books.  If you’ve read the book, I’d love for you to comment and let me know what you thought.  Or drop me an email.   .

 

 

Where’s Eldo?  He’s here.

 

I got back in time to change and head out for Venice to meet Eldy and Jeanne of Where’s Eldo.  They aren’t on the road anymore and their home is just up the road so we got together at Made In Italy in Venice for Pizza.   Actually just as we are ready to walk out the door, the park folks come, of course, to look into the electricity which is, of course, working fine at this  moment.  Isn’t it always the way?   

We are a bit late therefore in meeting them but I think it was ok since they were sitting outside on this gorgeous night enjoying a glass of wine and a beer.

 

We talk and laugh.  I ask them about how they found coming off the road.  Jeannie says Eldy had an easier time than she did.  He commented that now that they have the house it amazes him that they lived so well in such a small place. 

Eldy is enjoying golf and the views of the course from their patio.  Jeannie is happy substitute teaching, kayaking and attending her knitting group.  They both enjoy their pool.  Quite a big change from their former home in Indiana.  

After dinner we stroll around downtown Venice with its beautifully painted dolphin statues and eventually end up in the park chatting until darkness forces us to say good bye.  It’s great to see them so happily settled.

 

 

FRIDAY

Today is one of those work and errands days. 

 

 

 

First thing this morning David goes out to change the plug on our electric cord to make sure that isn’t the problem we are having here at the campground with low voltage.  They did come by and explain that they have had problems and have been switching sites over to a second line to balance the load.  They’ve done most of the campground except, of course, for those of us down at the very end.  But, it should all be fixed by next year and we won’t be back before then.   In the second picture, doesn’t he seem to be saying “OK if this is the campground’s  problem then why did I have to change this?”.

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of fun stops before Sarasota Whole Foods.

After that, the major goal is to go to Whole Foods since this is the closest we will be to a Whole Foods for months after we leave the area on Sunday. We stop in to the Goodwill to look for a pair of work jeans for David who has absolutely worn his out. Holes in the back, knees out. I think you’ll agree these are WORN OUT.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course we find a pair of black jeans and a few other things including a fabulous T-Shirt for an old 60’s Motown groupie like me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way out of Goodwill we see Winnona’s sister next door on the lot at RV World.  Of course we have to stop over and take a look, her door is open after all and no salesmen in sight.  I am  happy to report that her condition is pretty good but not as good as Winnona’s.  She’s also a year older, and they are asking more than we paid for Winnona 4 years ago.   Even if they take a 20% discount to make the sale, it looks like Winnona is holding her value extremely well.  Not that we would part with her of course.  But it was fun to look at the differences in a year older model of the exact same size and design.

 

 

Seems she’s had her furniture reupholstered.  I don’t care for it.   But they also had some removable arm and back covers made for the driver’s and passenger’s chairs that I’d sure like to find or get made.  Wish I had a sewing machine, but where in the world would I put it?

 

 

 

David actually gets in and out of Lowe’s in less than 30 minutes.  It’s a MIRACLE!

 

We do finally make it to Whole Foods in Sarasota despite the traffic on US 41.  We stock up on all those organic things we can’t find at Publix and some organic produce and head on home with one more stop at Lowe’s to pick up Zep Sealer and Wax.

 

We are still trying to find a way to get rid of the gray marks on the white fiberglass.  Especially after seeing Winnona’s sister today where there is nothing like this gray stuff on her although her decals are in much worse shape than Winnona’s.  Her fiberglass looks bright and shiny white.  So there must be a way to clean/fix it.  You don’t see the gray stuff from a distance but when you are up close, as in opening the door, it drives me crazy.  Bill knows what I mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in June, David did Meguiars’ entire 3 step process – oxidation remover, a polish and a wax on everything but the roof wax.  That’s a lot of work to go over a 35’ coach three times.  It took most of the spots off but not all and after 6 months it came back.  So his next plan is to use Bar Keeper’s Friend to clean off the gray, and then a sealer and then the polish.  This process was highly recommended on the Fiberglass RV forum by a number of people including those restoring older rigs.  

Wish us luck.   Speaking of wishes, I sure wish Santa could bring me a free coupon for full body paint.   Winnona is such a great gal, she needs a bright, shiny, clean outfit to wear.