Getting Parts Installed, A Surprise, and Good To Go

Lakeland, FL.
53 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast today = high temp. 85 deg. mostly sunny, SE winds @ 5 mph.

Wow, did I get a lot of work done on me yesterday!!!

It was only a few minutes after 8:00, and Lester was already working on changing my circulating pump. It's in a real difficult spot to get to, so it took him quite awhile. Then he tackled my exhaust leak, and by noon, he had that fixed also.

In the middle of all this, I got a real surprise! A truck pulled into a space along side of me, and the man got out and installed 6 new tires on my wheels!! Yep, 6 brand new Michelin load range H tires!! You could have knocked me off the jack with a feather!! I knew my tires were getting old, and that one tire had developed the crack back in Louisiana, but I never expected this!! Wow!!!!

After I calmed down from the excitement of getting the tires, Jim started me up and let my engine run for awhile so Lester could check for any leaks. Well, there were not any that Lester could find, so as of right now, I'm good to go!!!

So, this morning, (after Lester makes a final check for leaks), Jim and Linda will pay my bill, make arrangements for me to come back in a couple of weeks, and then we can leave here so I can try out my new tires!

I can hardly wait!!!!

Did you know that mosquitoes prefer children to adults, and blonds to brunettes?

Not Much To Tell About

Lakeland, FL.
52 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast today = high temp. 83 deg. partly cloudy, light SW winds.

Not much to tell you about today, yesterday was real quiet around here. Jim and Linda just watched TV, read, and did normal daily things.

For dinner, Jim cooked a nice steak out on the grill, (that he and Linda shared), while Linda heated up some left-over green beans and made some garlic bread out of a partial older loaf of bread.

Today, I'm hoping to get most of my repairs finished, so we can get out of here for awhile. We'll have to come back in a couple of weeks to get the last parts installed, but at least I won't have to sit here in this lot while we're waiting for them to come.

Well, I'd better get going. I don't know how early they'll start to work on me this morning, but I want to be ready.

Did you know that ants stretch when they wake up?

A Great Visit With Old Friends,

Lakeland, FL.
51 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast today = high temp. 82 deg. clear, S. winds @ 5 mph.

Did all of you remember to set your clocks ahead one hour? Be honest now, I'll bet some of you forgot.

Yesterday was a slow day for me, but CLT took Jim and Linda up to Wildwood to see Monte and Donna, so he had a busy day. They left here about 10:00, and drove up to Wildwood, where their first stop was the Russell Stover candy store. There, Linda picked up a whole bunch of sugar free candy that should keep her supplied for a long time. Sugar free candy is fairly hard to find, so when we come down here to FL. she always stocks up.

The next stop was at a Denny's Diner, for lunch. Jim and Linda had never been in one of Denny's diner type restaurant before, and both said it was kind of neat.
After lunch, they headed over to Monte and Donna's house to visit with them for awhile. CLT says they must have really enjoyed their visit, because there were there for about 5 hours. Jim snapped this photo just as they were leaving.

It was almost 6:30 by the time CLT pulled back into the parking lot here at Creative Coach, and Jim and Linda were still talking about the great visit they had.

It's too bad they can't get together more often.

After they got back here, Jim and Linda had some left-over pizza for dinner, and then watched TV until bedtime.

Did you know that an ant can survive for up to two weeks underwater?

I See The Light! and A Plan

Lakeland, FL.
48 deg. clear, no wind.
Forecast today = high temp. 80 deg. mostly sunny, SE winds @ 5 to 10 mph.

I can see the light!!!! I can see the light!!!! What light is that, you ask?? It's the light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

Yesterday there was finally some real progress on my repairs. My oil was changed, my filters were changed and my chassis was lubed. Lester replaced the kick-down cylinders on my two front leveling jacks, I found out that they had finally located a new pump for my furnace, and finally my new awning fabric was installed!! Oh, and I almost forgot!! When they changed my fuel filters, they found out that the little priming pump, for my fuel system was leaking, and not the filter. So, they replaced the little pump, and now, No More Fuel Leak!!! :-)

Now, there was one little glitch. When they replaced my awning fabric, they found out that the spring that rolls the awning up, had lost most of it's springing abilities, and one of the locks at the end of the awning was defective. But, not to worry. These parts are readily available and can be ordered.

Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I'm going to have to stay here even longer to wait for the awning parts... Nope!!! Let me try to explain what the new plan is.. Monday, they will finish installing the parts that they have on hand, and then on Tuesday or Wednesday, we'll leave for a couple of weeks to go back to Orange City to see Laura and her family. Then, we'll come back here to have the furnace pump and the awning parts installed.

Sounds like a plan to me!! And, the best part is that it means that I'll be able to get out of here for awhile!! :-)

Yesterday, Jim and Linda called some friends of theirs (Monte and Donna), who live up in Wildwood, FL, and made plans to take CLT, (Cute Little Truck), and go up there to see them today. I met Monte and Donna last year when they came to see me while I was in Bushell, and they're really nice people. I wish I could see them again this year, but I don't think that's going to happen. Oh well, maybe next year. It's about an hour and a half drive up there, so I'll be here by myself for a good part of the day.

Hmmm, maybe I can get to know that Country Coach Motorhome that is parked next to me right now. He's having some body damage repaired where he tangled with a palm tree. :-(

Did you know that on this date in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone?

Some Work, and The End Of Beaver Coaches?

Lakeland, FL.
38 deg. partly cloudy, NE winds @ 5 mph.
Forecast today = high temp. 72 deg. sunny, NE winds @ 5 to 10 mph.

Well, Lester, (my mechanic), did work on me some yesterday. He worked on a small fuel leak that I had up near my fuel fill on the left side. He was able to get a socket wrench up to the fill area, (from underneath), and tighten the clamps a little. Now, we'll just have to wait until Jim gets me another drink of that good old #2 and see if it leaks or not. I don't even want to know what would be involved if it still leaks. They would probably have to remove my 150 gallon fuel tank. :-( He also worked on my exhaust system, and determined that I will need a new section of pipe to repair it. He took all the measurements and assured Jim that he could get it and install it.

I was really hoping that more work would get done yesterday, but it's a start at least. Maybe today.

I don't know if you've heard the news that Monaco Coach is very close to closing the doors and going out of business. Why is this important to me, you ask? Well, Monaco Coach owens Safari, Holiday Rambler, and Beaver, the company that made me. If Monaco goes out of business and takes the Beaver name with it, there will be no new coaches to carry on my heritage. I would hate to see that. We've been a proud brand throughout the years, known for quality, and craftsmanship, it would be a shame to see our line end. :-(

Did you know that the Ritz cracker was introduced to the markets in 1934?

I'm OK, and A Promise

Lakeland, FL.
34 deg. clear, no wind
Forecast today - high temp. 64 deg, clear, N. winds @ 10 mph.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm OK. More parts are coming in each day, and today, Jim has been promised that they would start working on me.

There has been absolutely nothing happening here in the last few days, so nothing to write about.

Did you know that a housefly beats it's wings about 20,000 times per minute when flying?

Plans For Monday, Friends Leaving and 24

Lakeland, FL. (24)
65 deg. mostly cloudy, SW winds @ 7 mph.
Forecast today = high temp. 65 deg. and falling. Morning showers possible, winds becoming NW @ 17 mph with 25 mph gusts. Temp falling tonight to tonight 37 deg.

Even though they don't do any physical work, and the shop is not officially open, Lester, (my mechanic), and some of the others come to work for a few hours on Saturday mornings. I think they mostly use the time for planning and discussing past and upcoming work and projects. Anyway, it sounds like they may start doing some work on me Monday, such as my annual service, installing those kick-down cylinders, and the water circulating pump, parts that have already come in.

I know I said that my new awning fabric had come in also, but the man that told Jim that, made a mistake, and it's not here yet. Oh well, they've got plenty of other stuff to do, and maybe it'll come in Monday or Tuesday. We're also still waiting on a new pump for my furnace to replace the one that's leaking. (24)

Well, my new friend, the Holiday Rambler, who was parked along side of me, left yesterday. If you remember, he was the one who broke through a septic system clean out, and sustained major body damage. Well, Friday, his new left rear leveling jack came in, the mechanics installed it, and now he is feeling much better. He was really glad to be leaving here yesterday. It had been over a month since that the accident happened.

Good luck, new friend. Hope to see you down the road again some day.

You know, it's kind of hard meeting new RVs, making friends with them, and then watching them leave, to head down the road to go on new adventures. Sometimes you'll see them again, but other times you won't, but you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything. Even though it makes me sad to see them leave, I know that they are heading out onto the highway to see new things and go new places, and that makes me happy to know that they are doing what they were made for. The worst thing that can happen to an RV is to be parked somewhere for long periods of time. We were made to travel down the highway.

OK, enough of that!

Last night, Jim cooked a steak out on the grill, while Linda made some baked beans for him and cabbage for her. (She doesn't much like baked beans), and warmed up some left-over rice. (24) They both said it made a good meal.

I'll bet you're wondering what that #24 is doing scattered around on this post. Well.....

Did you know that on this date, 24 years ago, Jim and Linda were married?

Happy anniversary, Jim and Linda!