Cummings South Orlando

 We left the Thousand Trails Park Friday with the "etch-a-sketch" showing a quick stop at Cummings to get an oil drip from the drain plug fixed, and then south to warmer weather. I guess the road was a lot rougher than I though because the :etch-a-sketch got shaken up pretty bad.

 Back in Aug. we had taken the rig to MI where the chassis was built to have it serviced. I though that since they built it they would be the best to service it, but I was wrong again. I noticed an oil drip around the drain plug back in November so I called Spartan and complained. The guy at Spartan was really nice and said to take the rig to any Cummings dealer to have it fixed and they would cover the costs.

 Everyone knows I'm a little slow at some things and it took me until yesterday (Friday) to get it to a dealer to have it fixed. Once the mechanic looked it over he found not one, not two, but three leaks. The oil drain plug, the hydraulic reservoir, and the main seal. From no leaks last year to a visit to Spartan for service, and now three leaks???? Spartan is taking care of the costs on the oil and hydraulics, but won't cover the main bearing. We do have an extended warranty so it should cover the main bearing and we won't be out much $$.

 All three leaks could be fixed in one day if (mighty big word for just two letters) they had the parts on hand, and they hand the go from the insurance. Spartan has to send the gasket for the hydraulics and that could take a few days and because New Years Day and the weekend we will be here until Monday, Maybe even Wednesday if they don't get the part and the OK Monday AM.

 So now the "etch-a-sketch" has us sitting here until all the work is finished. We really don't have a problem sitting here, Cummings does have 50 amp service and water set up in a nice area in the back corner of their lot. Behind us is a nice large pond, (they called it a lake) and then past the pond is a golf course. There are four sites here, and tonight there are three rigs, the property is all fenced in and we have the code for the gate so it doesn't get much better.

 This does put the brakes on us heading south, but the weather isn't going to be as cold as it has been so we will be A O K..............

The Kids visit Mickey

 We moved from Sumter Oaks last week to the Orlando Thousand Trails Park so we could be close to Disney World while Corey and his family were in town. We arrived a couple days early so we could be well rested for the busy week Jennifer had planned at Disney.
 We spent the weekend resting up and Monday the kids arrived. It was pure pleasure seeing them and the little Miss Jaelynn was the icing on the cake. Her smile with that long curly red hair had me wanting to squeeze her tight.
 They went to their morel room after diner and we returned to the RV. The plan had been set for the next day, I was taking Marcia to Shades of Green to get the tickets at a discount using our military I D card. Then we were to meet the kids where I would drop Marcia off so she could go with the kids to Disney while I returned to the rig to wait for a call to pick Marcia up.
 Around 6 pm I started towards the "Mouse"s House" to pick up Marcia while the kids did a late night thing lasting until midnight. I was about a mile away from the pickup point when I got a call to pick Marcia up. I thought I was doing good until they ask for McDonald's hamburgers. One hour later I was almost back to the pickup site with burgers, fries, and a Mickey Dee's Sweet Tea. I won't get into where the GPS sent me to find a McDonald's, only that it took me an hour to get back to where I was.
 All the kids had fun at Disney, Marcia included. I was wore out from the two trips I made and could only imagine how tired they must have been after walking all day fighting the crowds, and standing in lines. I decided I would just wait at the RV the rest of the week and let them have their fun.
 They all spent four days running around the Mouse's House and then Saturday morning Corey Jennifer and Miss Jaelynn had breakfast with Mickey and his friends. Miss Jaelynn wouldn't eat her waffle because it had Mickey's Face on it, but she had no problem eating the Mickey shaped pancake Sunday morning the Marcia made for her.
 We had a good day together Saturday at the CG. Even though it was on the cold side for FL we were still able to play a round of putt-putt. Miss Jaelynn did really well for her first time playing. Later the kids gave Marcia and myself a surprise birthday party. Since we are almost never anywhere close to the kids on our birthdays they felt it was a good time to give us a little party. Thanks Kids!!!!
 The kids loaded up and left out this am, it was great that they were able to visit and everyone had a good time. Now that nothing else is planned we are free to head south anytime. We have the reservations here until Friday and haven't seen much of Nick and Terry, or Dave and Jean so getting in some visiting is on our list before we head deeper south chasing the 70's and trying to avoid the cold nights........

Time for an Up-Date

When I looked at my blog last night I noticed it had been a long time since I made a post, so today I will will bring everyone up to date.

While at the Thousand Trails park in Wauchula we got the chance to visit Walt, (Donna was visiting family in VA). Walt and Donna was the first couple we met as full time rv'ers. We met at the Life On Wheels rally in Bowling Green Ky back in May of 2007. Walt is the type of guy that has to be doing something all the time, and I guess that had something to do with him failing retirement 101. But we had a good visit at their new home in Lake Land FL, and we hope to see them more while we are in FL.

 After our two weeks had passed we headed  S L O W L Y  towards Clermont where we will spend another two weeks starting tomorrow. Corey, Jennifer, and Miss Jaelynn will be visiting us next week. They have big plans while they are here, Mickey and Minnie and all that stuff. I will babysit the rig and Leo while they run around.

 We spent a week at a small park near Tampa resting up from the long drive from Wauchula. (about 60 miles) The resting up didn't work out too well for me, we played corn hole and another game the had me bending way too much and that got my back aggravated. Add in the cold front that came down and I wound up spending a couple days in bed trying to get over the pain.

 Now we are at Sumter Oaks with many friends that we have met in the past five years. We always feel "at home" here because we know so many people here. When Marcia was a "host" with the Escapees we spent four months here and a lot of the same people keep returning to this park.

 Our friends Wanda and Wallace are managers here now, and any time we are around them we have a good time. A couple days ago "The Maine-e-acts" pulled in from Maine, three rigs full of-em. It had been a long time since we had seen them, and it is always good catching up with them.

 Tonight the park is having their weekly "dine in" and they will be serving meatloaf and mashed tatters. It will be our last night here so we will saying our good byes to everyone tonight. Tomorrow we will make the long drive to Clermont, ( about an hour drive ) I think I'll be able to drive it in one day. There we will rest up while waiting for Miss Jaelynn's visit Monday.

 Maybe I will post more often, but I guess that will depend on the weather, the weather I do it or not........