Another Volunteer Gig and Good-Bye KW

  Last weekend the Navy's Blue Angles preformed here in KW and Marcia had us down to volunteer to help. Once I found out she had me down to volunteer I quickly ask her to remove me from the list. I just had a feeling it wouldn't be a good thing to volunteer for.

 Marcia had told one of her BFF's from Middlesboro about the Blue Angles coming to KW and naturally Beth wanted to come down to see and help. Beth is always volunteering for something, she has been a volunteer for the Bell County Rescue Squad for years, she was there when Marcia and I was volunteers in the rescue squad back in the 90's.

 Beth ask her hubby Steve if it would be OK for her to come down and visit a couple weeks and Steve being the loving husband that he is said sure, but we all know he really didn't want her to be away from him, but considering the warmth down here and the cold up there he knew she would feel better here so he encouraged her to come. So she jumps on a plane and flys down.

 So Marcia and Beth did the volunteering for the Blue Angles Show. The Air show was two days and their volunteer "jobs" had them working Sunday, that left Saturday for them to see the show. Myself I've BTDT (been there done that) and wouldn't fight the crowd with all the crazy people so I stayed home and watched the Blue Angles from the CG. I did miss all the smaller planes doing their stunts, but I didn't get trampled by the crowds.

Here is the ONLY picture I took of the Blue Angles.

 

 

Another sponsor of the air show was Budweiser and they had the famous Budweiser Clydesdales down here. They had to  take the big horses down town Key West to make a few deliveries, we all know how the "PR" stuff works. Several bars in KW had made donations supporting Budweiser and the air show so the Clydesdales we used to deliver a few cases of beer.

 

Marcia and Beth were all excited about seeing them and wanted to go down to one of the bars and wait for them to make the delivery. I suggested we go to Truman Annex and watch them unload the horses and hitch them up. The crowd was a lot smaller at the annex than it was on Duval St and we all got a lot better and longer view.

 

Getting them ready for the beer run.

 

Rolling out onto the road to make the delivery.

 

As it turned out we had one of the best views and got to see a lot more and to top it off there wasn't near as many people crowding us.

 

 

Here in KW the bars came up with an idea to have a crawl, it's not a new idea but this one would be the Duval Crawl. You buy a ticket and that entitles you to a drink at certain bars from one end of Duval to the other. You get to start at the Atlantic Ocean and finish at the Gulf of Mexico. The cops will even stop traffic for you if you need to crawl across Duval.

 

In the same spirit the campground here at NASKW Sigsbee has what they call the "Campers Crawl". You can sign up to crawl or to host, we elected to be a host on this one. We broke out the famous MARGARATOR

for this special event. We were the first of four stops, (its almost the end of the winter season here and about 65% of the campers have left KW already) We had about 20 crawlers stop in for sample from the              MARGARATOR                 and I opened a bottle of chili pepper vodka we had bought in Mexico last year. I was surprised at how many tried and liked the hot chili pepper vodka, a few thought it was a little too hot. Everyone enjoyed the margaritas and when the crowd moved on to the next stop we fell in behind them and finished the crawl with them.

 

This was the second stop on the crawl, I stayed back away from the crowd so I don't even know what they were serving. Each host picked a drink (or two) to serve.

 

The last stop had made a cute little sign out of the cheese.

 

A few days later a cold front was making its way to KW. I don't understand how all the people north of us could let that happen, but it did. Now cold fronts bother my bones and I usually have a bad day or night just before a front comes through. This was no exception and it was one of those sleepless nights. But the weather was warm, about 75 degrees at 3:30 Am and I could see a string of thunder storms rolling by just north of us. A warm night, can't sleep, and a thunder storm rolling by, I had to go out and sit by the water and watch. It was very dark, but when the lightning flashed it lit things up pretty well so I decided to try and catch a few pictures. Do you realize how hard it is to anticipate a lightning flash? I did get a couple pics in the half hour or so that I was watching.

 

Lightning was the only source of light in these pics, other wise it was almost totally dark outside when I took them.

 

 

Our time here in KW is all but over, Tomorrow/ today now, we will hitch up the jeep and point the nose north. We plan on a long day, (150 miles) to the casino just outside of Miami, then on towards Tittusville for a few days or weeks. So until the next time............

Still Hanging Out in Key West

While we have been here in the Keys I have taken a few pictures, and thought it would be nice to share some of them with everyone.

 

This is one of our "dry camping" spots. This one was when we first arrived in Jan.

 

 

Marcia is always looking to help any way or any where. This is where we volunteered to help with the "Bone Island Tri-athalon", and they way we were treated it will be the last time we help them.

 

 

                             This is one of the flying fellows we have encountered here on the island.

 

An afternoon at the "Turtle Krawlz" and enjoying their "bucket of bones" (ribs)and this was our view.

 

 

Another volunteer gig that had us down town before sunrise, this was for the half marathon and they really treat their volunteers well. I ask them if the would wait until noon next year, but they said the runners would get too hot so I guess we can get up early one day a year.

 

 

 

We bought a Sea Eagle Kayak to enjoy here in the Keys, and anywhere else we may find a body of water to explore. It folds up pretty small when you let the air out.

 

Friends and Class mates Ron and Linda made it to Key West this year and what is a trip to the keys without a picture or two showing you were here?

 

This is one of the sunsets at Mallory Square.

 

When Bob and BJ arrived we had to have a get-together.

 

The famous, and endangered Key Dear

 

Yes the MARGARATOR has made a few appearances

 

Bob celebrated his 70th birthday here in the Keys and we were honored to help him. This is the view at Giger Key Fish Camp and Marina where we had his birthday dinner.

 

Wayne and Sandy, Ron and Linda, Bob and BJ, and Marcia and myself waiting on the birthday cake.

 

After a few drinks and a terrific dinner we stopped by the rig to mix up some more margaritas before heading down town to continue celebrating Bob's birthday. (as if we needed a reason to celebrate)

 

Several of the crowd were sipping heavy on the margaritas so a trip by the southern most point with pictures was in store. We did have designated drivers so all was good.

Ron and Linda

 

The Birthday Boy and BJ

 

Wayne and Sandy

 

Here is a view from the roof of our rig when we returned to dry camping.

 

Now we are in full hookups and this is the view I have while sitting at my desk.

 

And this is the view out the front window.

 

Life on the Island has been pretty darn good this year, The weather has been pretty good too, and some of the people we have met and spent time with is priceless......

NASKW in Feb

 Here it is already the 17th of Feb 2013. The weather here in KW has been almost perfect for me, the highs have been in the upper 70's and the lows have been in the lower 70's. Today that changed, it got down to 53 last night, and the high barely made it to 60. I sure am glad it is only one day that the high won't be in the 70's.

 We have not used our "Mr Buddy" heater since we left AZ last year, although I would have it out today if this cold spell was going to last more than one day. We did use the heat pump on top of the RV while we were in full hook-ups for a couple nights. Maybe this will be the last cold snap and we won't have to dig it out.

 KW being a tourist trap outside of the Navel Air Station we have kept to the confines of the Base for most of our time here. We do take the occasional trip down Duval St to watch the people, and of course being a member of the LEO club we do venture out to eat several times a week. My two favorite places are McDonald's (thanks to Corey giving us the discount card) and Denny's where they have to $2 $4 $6 & $8 menu. We have patronized some of the local places but it is hard to justify spending the extra $$ just to say we have eaten there.

 Marcia has volunteered to help out during the Blue Angles Air Show next month so I guess we will be hanging out in KW until the end of March or the first of April. We really have no plans except being back in KY for June and July where we volunteer at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, and stopping at Cummings South in Orlando to get the generator repaired. It quit working a couple days after they replaced the filters in Jan.

 Not much exciting is going on so I don't have a lot to tell about our stay here in KW and besides I do keep everyone informed on FaceBook, so until the next time.....

Livin on Island Time

  I haven't figured out why everyone says "living on Island time" because the clocks don't change, drivers don't slow down, and the sun rises and sets the same as anywhere else. Maybe it is for the tourists that come and spend their money, or the retirees that come down to enjoy the weather. What ever the reason we are living on Island time.


  Our friends and class mates Ron and Linda arrived a few days ago, and Marcia had spaghetti waiting on them so they didn't have to worry about cooking on a long travel day. They were able to get the site right next to us and we enjoyed their company, but when our turn came Saturday in the rotation we took the full hook-up site, and left Ron and Linda sitting in the dry-camping area.

 During our move to FH's I did something to my back. At lunch time I knew I was going to have a rough few days ahead of me. I am happy we got all set up after the move and we are on full hook-ups before my back decided to ground me for a few days. By Saturday evening I was pretty much out of commission. Sunday I was able to crawl out of bed long enough to eat and then back to bed. Monday I was able to get up and even walk around the park some, and now I'm OK as long as I don't move too fast or the wrong way, so I'll be even slower than Island Time.

 Our new Sea Eagle Kayak still has never been in the water, the wind has been blowing too much to get out on the water, but maybe I'll be ready by the time the wind dies down. The weather has been so nice, I can't even complain about it. Highs in the upper 70's and lows in the lower 70's. We did have a couple nights where it got down to 67, but hay this is Jan.

 What we do the next few days will be determined by how my back is, so we will just kick back and enjoy the weather........................

Giving Back

 We have been back in Key West for two weeks now, the weather has been as perfect as anyone could hope for. Highs in the 70's and lows in the 70' for the most part. We have had a couple rain showers pass over, and the wind has blown a few days, but as long as we don't need to run the AC or a heater I'm a happy camper.

 We have found that giving back in the way of volunteering has its rewards. The main reward is knowing that we are helping some where some how, and then there is the tee shirt. Two weeks ago they held a triathlon here in KW and we volunteered to help out. It wasn't one of our better volunteer gigs and we won't be helping them again. The lack of planning and support for the volunteers on the bike ride route was as close to non existing as you can get, so we will let that one pass next year.

 Sunday they had a half marathon and the volunteers were treated right. They had a dinner for us Wednesday at the Turtle Krawal. The food was great and the beer was free and it was a great way for the half marathon staff to say thanks to us volunteers. After the race there were plenty of snacks for everyone and free beer. I really think they could cater to us that don't really care for beer a little better, but free is free so I had to have one before we finished the day. (at 10:30 AM)

 Monday the MWR, (moral, welfare, and recreation) department had a kayak trip set up that we did a long with 33 other people. For $5 you could rent a kayak, and $2 for a bus ride to Boca Chica where we put the kayaks in. A couple guides guided us around the bay and through the mangroves between Boca Chica and Stock Island. It was a tiring couple of hours, but still a lot of fun.

 Sometime this week we should rotate into full hook-ups, these past two weeks have been dry camping. That is without having the advantage of electricity and plumbing provided by the rv park, but then our rv like most rv's are set up fully self contained. We have holding tanks for fresh water, grey water, (shower and sinks) and black water, (toilet). We have an inverter that converts our 12 volt batteries into 110 electricity, and a generator that provides electricity to charge the batteries. We do have to dump the tanks and replenish the fresh water and watch our batteries so when we do rotate into full hook-ups it will be nice to be plugged in.

 Ron and Linda Fleeger arrived here in KW a couple days ago, and there was a spot right next to us open so they took it. It is always good to meet up with class of 2007 mates, but it is extra good when they are parked next to us in Key West FL where the weather is almost perfect..............

Found the Seventies at last

 Almost six years ago while driving from Lexington KY to our home in Middlesboro KY we made the decision to sell everything, buy an RV, and Chase the Seventies. The decision was made to keep me from going crazy when the temps dropped into the 60's and below because I stayed inside where it was warm so I was spending a lot of time inside the house from November through May.

 We picked a date less than six months away as a goal to start our new life style, and before the date had rolled around we had sold almost everything or had given it away, we had bought a 37" class A motor home, and had moved the mattress out of the house into the RV. Our adventure of " chasing the 70's" had started.

 We spent time in all of the lower 48 states, done the big event in Quartzsite, and spent the winters in the Southwest, Florida, and South Texas. We found out the the 70's are a lot harder to find than we thought they could be. We found the desert of the Southwest to be too cold after the sun set, sometimes there could be a 40 degree swing in the high and low and that didn't help my bones any.

 After freezing our butts off last year in AZ and CA we decided to return to Key West FL for the winter. This winter KW has the perfect weather for me, (so far), The 10 forecast shows the highs to be in the upper seventies, and the lows to be in the lower seventies, with only a slight chance of rain. So for now we have found those allusive seventies......and will be spending several weeks here on the island of Key West.......................

2013 Where did 2012 go?

 How many times will we write or say 2012 when we all know it is 2013 now? I know every year I try to not make that mistake but find myself doing it, and sometimes it happens six or seven months into the new year.

 Ringing in the new year Marcia and I found the "Etch-a-sketch" uncontrollably shaken up. The plan on it when we left the TT Park in Clermont was a quick stop at Cummins to get a new oil plug, and then for us to be south bound. But: not only did we need a new oil drain plug, we also need a main bearing seal for the motor, and a gasket for the hydraulic reservoir.

 Spartan Chassis is covering the costs on the gasket and drain plug since the leaks started shortly after they serviced the coach, and the extended warranty we purchased back in January should cover the main seal with us only having to pay the deductible.  I said "should" cover the cost, as it turns out they will be sending an inspector out to check the seal.

  The Holiday has caused us to be put on hold while everyone celebrates, which is no real problem, Cummins is providing us with a very nice place to park with water and 50 amp service so we adjusted our plans.

 New Years eve we drove back to the TT park and enjoyed an evening with our friends Dave and Jean. The park threw a big party with live entertainment and we had a table with Dave and Jean and two other couples that are friends with Dave and Jean. It was a good way to ring in the new year.

 New Years day we headed east, as far east as we could drive, and then we walked a couple hundred yards across the dunes to the Atlantic Ocean. What better way to spend New Years Day than basking on a sunny beach watching the waves roll in? The water was a little too cold for us to get wet, but the sun had the sand feeling really good.

 Yesterday we found out we might be here a few more days. Spartan sent the gasket we need by UPS Ground and it won't arrive until Friday, and the extended warranty insurance company will be sending an inspector out to check the leak, and then he has to file a report and send it back to the adjuster assigned to us. Then he will decide what is covered and how much $$ is allowed for the repair. I'm not sure I'm happy with that investment or not.

 I also called my brother Chuck yesterday, he recently took a job at First Southern Bank and his office is in Orlando. When I told him we were camped out at Camp Cummins he figured out that he has their travel trailer parked about 1/2 mile from us. We were able to get together last night for a few hours, and it is always good to spend time with my older brother.

 That brings us back to Cummins and the waiting game, we will hang out here waiting on the parts to get here and the yea or nay from the insurance company. The repairs can be done in a few hours, but the approval has been a six day wait so far. Just another reason I dislike holidays.......