We are selling the RV (or "plans written in jello") and I'm a Grandma

We're fine, but it was a difficult decision to make. Originally we thought that we would travel with this RV for at least a good fifteen years or so, but some health issues have popped up for both of us that simply won't allow for this mode of travel...one is William's back. He hurt it in the fall of 2012 and it just hasn't been right since. He can still ride the motorcycle and his bicycle most of the time, but hooking up and unhooking the RV is something he cannot do anymore. Not going to write a list of maladies here, but those of us who are "older" will understand that some things you CAN do and some things you just CAN'T do anymore. For us, it's that simple. I think we were in denial for awhile. It's a hard pill to swallow because we've met some amazing RVers in their 70's and even late 80's who are still bopping around better than we are. 

We are still looking forward to travelling after the RV has sold, and hope to meet some of you at some point in time, but we will rent a condo on a beach(?), a cabin on a lake or in the woods or in an RV park(?), or stay in hotels/motels or whatever depending on where we are. We have new adventures to look forward to.  

We want to visit Florida and West Virginia again, see some areas of the east coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Northern Michigan, maybe Minnesota and North and South Dakota and more...time will tell. We might even get an enclosed bike trailer to pull with this truck, or maybe a different truck if this one sells, and bring the bike and bicycles with us.

We spent the winter at home this year...brrrrr.  I became a Grandmother for the first time to granddaughter Layla, born in early November and to grandson Silas, born in early February. Lots of pics to come. Happy Nana here!

- Mary Ann

Busy, busy, busy...

Been busy, busy, busy. Putting our beautiful RV up for sale. It was our dream to travel a lot, but health issues have popped up in both of us that will prevent us from doing so now. I'm really sad about it, It has very low miles on it and is like brand new or even better with the upgrades we did, like the buttersoft leather Lazyboy recliner loveseat, new very comfortable queen mattresses on two of the beds, had a satellite system installed, etc.

Oh well, life goes on and I hope we sell it soon. I've got my first two new grandbabies to spend time with (I've been busy babysitting, too!), and lots of jewelry making supplies to get busy on. I have a shop on Etsy, but I've had it in vacation mode for a long time. I'm hoping to re-open when I have my stock built up again and photos taken. It will be a while yet.

Is anyone shopping for a 39.6ft fifth-wheel toy hauler RV? It has a garage, three queen size beds, a full size loft bed with tv hook-up, 1 and 1/2 baths, a fireplace, three flat screen tvs, hook-up outside for a flat screen tv, inside/outside stereo system, fuel pump, etc., etc.

I'll post soon more about the RV and my new grandchildren with photos as soon as I get a little time to gather some photos for this blog.

This newfangled technology is pretty cool, but sure is difficult to try to keep up with! How about you?

So, we have Direct TV at home (satellite, one on the RV too, which is why we switched to it last year or so)...anyway, called them a few days ago (ask for their "retainment" center...actually with ANY cable, internet or phone or whatever...those are the people who will move mountains IF they want to keep you as a customer) because I thought the bill was way too high (it was) for what we were getting. Long story short, got a BIG chunk knocked off the bill without losing any services and they sent a couple guys out Wednesday to upgrade the receivers (for FREE) and the guys hooked up another little gizmo, can't remember what it's called now (SWIM?), but they told me and showed me that I can play the radio on the TV and SEE telephone calls!, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc., etc.,etc. Goodness gracious! Technology is moving along MUCH faster than my old brain can keep up with it!...but I'm giving it a good try! LOL! How about YOU?- Mary Ann

Sold our bicycles yesterday evening...

Took me longer to post the ad on Craigslist than it did to sell both bikes!  The phone was ringing within SECONDS of posting the ad (I think we didn't ask anywhere near enough for them, but my heart went to mush when I saw the college age kids that bought them for their regular transportation to get to work because they cannot afford cars or fuel in this f****** up economy...(makes me SO angry!)   William wants to buy a couple of folding bicycles to save on space (in the RV)....there ARE some really nice ones out there....I'm a bit skeptical, but definitely game....and my bike was difficult to ride.  William has had his Schwinn since the early 1970's and got a LOT of use out of it....and as you can see, it still looks (and rides) great.  Mine was a "whim" purchase a few years ago, but never "knocked my socks off"...and due to fairly recent health issues, I haven't ridden it much anyway (but, I WANT to).  Anyway...the bikes went to good homes for a song and we're both happy about it.  I'll post pictures of the new bikes when we get them (SOON).  
Meanwhile, Dad is still at home (thank God!)....and thank you all again for your kind thoughts, prayers and words.  I'll fill you in more, soon enough. - Mary Ann

Update: More readable? About my Dad and this blog...

To those of you who posted kind words regarding my Dad, and to those of you who read about it and thought kind thoughts without posting, THANK YOU straight from my heart!......I do that all the time (not post comments), even when I know I should say something but just can't bring myself to, because sometimes reading about the imminent or recent death or dire illness of someone else's loved one often brings thoughts of our own mortality and that of those we love and care for, too close to the surface for our own comfort...that's ok...I understand that all too well.  We all must deal with illness and death at various times during our lifetimes, and on top of that, more often than not, we are juggling all of the neccessary things and events of daily living at the same time.

Bandera, Texas - March 2010 "Thunder In The Hills" Biker Rally ~ Part 1 ~

~ Part 1 ~












This is the field where everyone with RV's set up camp.
It filled up fast after this pic was taken.
There was another large area for tent camping with your bike.
We used to do that, but not anymore. :-)

This is the rig we started out with last year.
Very nice, but not for us.
One winter as snowbirds was all we could handle.
It was just too small with no slides.
We sold the truck and the RV this past spring,
so we could upgrade to what we have now.
We did keep our screen house though!
We've gotten a lot of great use out of it,
and it's still in perfect condition.
We used it when we used to tent camp, too. :-)









To be continued. Check back for Part 2 ..........

Checking it out again today, "walk-through" tomorrow...

We rode the bike out to General RV so William could ride it up into the trailer's "garage" to measure for the tie-downs. A few things we're not too happy about (I'll write in more detail about everything another time), but, we'll know more tomorrow after the "walk-through" which they told us would take about three hours. Then we get to bring our "second home" home! :-)

 

 

Sneak Peek of our new RV

We did it!

Well, we did it!

I had to make a few phone calls to the Forest River people, because the 2010 model
looked "down-graded" to us (this economy seems to be affecting everything everywhere ...you know ...make it cheaper, charge more). The cupboards look cheap, NOT the real wood cupboards that were in the 2009 model we liked and the color was different, some kind of brown plastic panel stuff where the raised wood used to be. Also, the fabric in the 2010 is a hideous (in my opinion) geometric pattern (like something out of a bad 1960's movie). The people at the Forest River manufacturer in Indiana told me that they could not give us the same fabric and cupboards that we liked in the 2009 model and put them in our new 2010 model that they had yet to build. I kept asking them "why NOT?!"...until they finally relented and gave me the phone number of their Michigan rep (Jerry Connor)...much to his surprise, not to mention the surprise of the guys at our local dealership. Long story short, the rep was very nice, returned my call exactly when he said he would and managed to "find" the 2009 fabric and cupboards to install in our 2010. YAY! They are also going to install a fuel station, which could be very convenient when we're "boondocking", and I have them checking on the possibility of installing an overhead fan in the bedroom, because they don't usually come that way in travel trailer toy haulers, but, even with the air conditioning, I don't handle the heat very well, so hopefully they can do it.

On July 23rd we went back to the General RV dealership to see our new pals (and super nice people!)... Bob (our sales guy) and Mike (the sales manager) and Brian (the money guy) and we put our deposit down. Our 30 foot long, 2010 Forest River Work-and-Play Travel Trailer Toy Hauler is being built right now and will be delivered in five to six weeks, give or take a few days to work any kinks out. We're so excited!