Things were looking really good for the start of my trip back East on Friday. I spent the better part of a week seriously cleaning the exterior of the RV, then waxing it. This, I decided, is for younger persons, most specifically men, who have upper body strength and enjoy climbing up and down ladders until they can't feel their thigh muscles. But, it seems it was worth it. SCargo looks pretty good for an old V.
Next, I had to figure out how to manage what to put into the V. I decided that clothes would go into 1 or 2 overhead compartments. Dishes and food items would go into the closet and paper products into the microwave. Anything that isn't put away ends up on the floor. So - if it doesn't fit into an overhead, under or beside a seat, or the other places I mentioned, it doesn't go. So far so good. The only exception to this rule in the 10-speed bike that's sitting in the aisle. Oh, and the Coleman cooler. I won't have an electrical hookup for my 4 nights on Assateague, so I thought I could keep a couple perishable items in it.
Strike 1: With the RV arrangements figured out, I was ready to go. Friday I was up at 0630 - extremely early for this retiree. I put the last of the items into the V, cleaned the budgie cage and then attempted to get Newbie into it. (Bubba is used to the drill, so he was already in place) No dice. There was no way in $#@$@ he was going back into that cage. Something was up and he wasn't falling for it. I gave him time to naturally go back in for food.
Strike 2: While I was waiting for Newbie, I turned the furnace off and changed the thermostat for the air conditioner. I would set it high so that if it got too hot while I was away, it would kick in and keep the moisture down. No dice there either - something in the furnace closet was making a noise like water dripping. I opened the door and, no, it wasn't water, it was wires burning from the thermostat, making a crackling sound .So I did what any self-respecting woman 20 minutes from going away for 6 or so weeks would do - I turned the unit off, unplugged it and turned off the pilot light, shut the door, and decided to deal with it later.
Now it's 10:15. Newbie had managed to keep just out of reach, so I had to get out my Dollar Tree butterfly net and go after him until he was exhausted and cried uncle. I'm sure had he known that we were going to MD/DE/PA/NJ/NY he would have jumped right into the cage. Now it was 1030 and I was ready to go. So out we went and got on the road.
Strike 3: I'm driving along with the birds tweeting as they usually do on the road. They really like the V. About 35 miles east of Memphis on I-40 I decided to make a phone call. No dice - No phone! I managed to get on the computer on Skype and call Ed and ask him to call my cell phone to see if I might hear it somewhere in the V. Nothing. Back home and another 35 miles to pick up the phone. Who can live without their cell phone for over 6 weeks? Or six minutes? (Departure time became noon.) As I reached home, I realized that I could have called my cell phone myself from the computer. Thank goodness Ed didn't think of it, or it would have made it into this blog, signed 'Contractor'.
That was day 1 - I didn't quite make it to my planned first day destination, but I did have a nice sleep at an undisclosed location near Knoxville, TN.
Next post: Where is SCargo? See if you can tell.
5 comments:
An "undisclosed location" eh, is the sheriff looking for you? Or do you just forget (or want to forget) where you spent the night?
I may be ahead of my time and ahead of the post, but I am guessing that S Cargo is in Pura Besakih, Bali.
I sure hope S Cargo and the crew didn't float away last night in the terrible storm they were in. There's a hazard warning for high tide today in your location and you may want to go to higher ground. Better check with the ranger station if you're not already under water.
Wow! Whatta take-off! I would have thrown in the towell and said to %$^*&^$ with it...but, that's what separates the RVers from us non-RVers. In any event, I'm glad you got off and are on your way to a glorious, fun-filled six weeks or so. I wish I were there (wherever you are). I am going back to the bay place on the 23rd of this month and will wish you were there. It will be lonely with no S Cargo or Fife or Jnita. Maybe next fall, huh?? Have fun and be careful! Lots of nuts out there on the roads.
Glad to hear you FINALLY got on the road. Sheesh--whatta morning! Anxiously awaiting to hear about your upcoming adventure. I just got back today from visiting Roberta Anderson (aka Bobby Pfau). Looking forward to seeing you!
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