Thursday 28 June 2012

Moving day!

We left Bass Lake ROD resort this morning around 8:30. It is a beautiful day and was in the lower 60's when we left  We had only 18 miles to drive from the ROD park to Forest Lake, a Thousand Trails park. We were escorted to a site that was not acceptable at all. The spot was maybe big enough for a Small class c. The guy taking us to the site said he would get a chain saw and take down a tree that would have left us get in but even then I don't  think we could have opened our 4 slides. I know there was no way we could have gotten Direct TV. I told them this was not an acceptable site and he told us he would  see if he could get us a suitable site. He said they were expecting an additional 40 units to check in today.

We decided we would find an acceptable and drove into a good site. I was going to tell the office where we were when the gentleman that leads you to the site came by and told us we were given site B27. We were about set up in our selected site but I went with him to see if B27 was acceptable to us. It was so I went back to get our coach. Had to store everything again and set up on spot B27. It is a good site. We are level, slides out, Direct TV reception great and we have 50 amp. We are here for 2 weeks.

There are a lot of activities here so we will be busy here. Tomorrow is S'mores and a movie. Tomorrow is a Troubadours concert and so it goes throughout the week. Lots to keep us busy.

Our lot at Forest Lake

Looking out from our lot

   

Saturday June 23, 2012

We have been really busy doing nothing! The time flies by and we wonder where it went.

We have visited the flea market again to replenish our fresh fruit and vegetables, along with another visit to the rv'rs  favorite store - Walmart! The prices at the flea market are good and we enjoy looking at all the stuff we know we are not going to buy as there is the room problem.

As we were leaving to go to the flea market we saw some folks (a family) working on the miniature golf course. Upon our return they had three really big piles of trash along side the course and you could really make out the progress they had made. We stopped to talk to them and they said they were a volunteer family from nearby that had a membership in the resort and just wanted to make it better. Is that what Americans do or what. We gave them a monetary donation and then went back to the coach for lunch. After lunch we walked back and they were at the pool cooling off and told us they will have it all done this summer. I really believe they will and I told Linda that we would have to return to this resort in the future to behold the fruits of their labor.

Below are some pictures of their work.

family doing the work

across lake looking at kids play area

one hole with trash removed

good effort here too

this will be a really nice miniature golf course

Monday June 18, 2012

Not much happening here at Bass Lake, Had a new neighbor move in and they are from Tucson, AZ. Talking with them I find they are originally from Ohio and the wife is from very close to Minerva, Ohio. They have been to this park before it changed ownership and was telling me how it has gone downhill with the new owners. They said the park use to be packed. Now there are about 12 units here. The miniature golf course is totally trashed - over grown with weeds and falling down. Looked like it was a really nice course at one time. 

Yesterday the water was off and I walked up to the office (long way down and up) and there was no one there. There was a number to call and I called and got the maintenance man. I should say his answering service. He called back as I was walking back to our site and said the water should be back on. He was filling the pool and it drains the upper lots. Seems to me that could be a real health problem pulling water from the units into the line - but what do I know. In any case we are all good to go now.

Went to the VA in Salisbury to had one of my meds refilled and it was an easy, if kind of lengthy process.  They were all very nice and helpful as we have found all the VA's to be. With that job done, we stopped at a local food store and got a half gallon of milk. WOW $3.16. It was on the way back to the RV so I got it.

We went to the local Flea Market Sat and it was a really large one. Lots of stuff. One good thing about living in an RV is you are not tempted to buy stuff. No place to put it. We did get some veggies as the price was great and the vegs were really fresh. A big basket of tomatoes were only 3 bucks and 3 large cukes for a buck. Spent most of the day walking the isles there. A really nice day weather wise and a very nice Fathers day with the kids calling. Linda was very good to me too but, as you all know, that is her normal mode of operation.

All is well here and the weather has been outstanding thus far. We are set here until the 28th when we move to a Thousand Trails park here in NC.

Otis and Linda

Thursday June 14, 2012

We are all moved. Got our "house" on a new lot in a new state. We are now in Salisbury, NC in the ROD resort Bass Lake. A very nice park and we are on a good 50 amp site with a good view of the park. The price is right as, like all ROD parks, it is free.

Had a nice drive from Greensboro, Ga up here. It was about 285 miles here. We got away at exactly 8:00 and the weather was beautiful all day. Only had one slight slowdown of maybe 20 miles in a construction zone on I 85. The park was ready for us and handed our package to us and showed us the way to our site.

They do have a good catch and release pond that we do plan to fish in. It has lots of bass and catfish. Of course, if you release them you can not eat them.

We have used $276.20 in diesel and $31.56 of gas so far on this trip. We have been traveling 21 days now so we have only averaged a about $15 per day in fuel. Food cost has been $31.56 for dining out and $179.56 for groceries. for about $10.00 per day. Our total camping cost was $14.00 for Cable TV. I think it would be impossible to have a vacation like we are having in a car and motels and eating out for such a small sum. We have had the expenses of joining ROD but that is a lifetime cost and will be more that recovered this year. Maintenance will catch up with us when we stop at Lazydays in Oct for our yearly maintenance. It normally costs us $2000.00 for oil, filters and bumper to bumper cleaning and maintenance of A/C's furnaces, refrigerator, and all the other components that make this such a great home on wheels. $2000 over 365 days is less than another 10 bucks a day for our expenses. Our phone and internet connection and the direct TV are our biggest expenses. These are expenses you don't have to have but sure contribute to the enjoyable lifestyls.

Below are some pictures of our new surroundings.

the catch and release pond

looking up into our site

looking down into the park

Looking across the pond

Tuesday June 12, 2012

Our friends from Florida, Wayne and Brenda Cassada, just left. They had left Florida on their way to Virginia and came up 75 to spend a few days with us. They are really great traveling companions. Hopefully we will meet them again before we turn west towards Colorado.

Along with the rest of the east coast, we have had lots of rain the last few days. One night it really poured   all night. We stayed dry so all was well. It looks like we will be mostly dry today and then tomorrow is supposed to be the same. That is good as today we have lots to do as tomorrow we move on to a new location.

Sunday we went to the resort's church and the preacher did a great job. He has had his Job experience as he lost his job then lost his wife and his house was repossessed.  But he still praised the Lord and gave Him the glory for all the good in his life. We can all learn from that.

We met another couple here and they are really interesting folks. They just bought a new Tiffin Bus! A 43 foot tandem axial. What a beautiful coach. It is all electric (Linda said she likes a little propane to cook on) and this is their third place they have camped with it. His name is Ray Allison, the same as the famous race car driver. He has a garage in Atlanta and Linda thinks he is the same Ray Allison as the race driver fame. In any case, he and his wife Nell are very nice folks and we hope that we meet them again on the road. We spent most of the day with them in their coach or they in ours visiting. Great to be on the road.

Today we go into Greensboro to the Publix, where shopping is a pleasure, to stock the freezer before we leave. Linda really likes Publix as she knows where everything is. She likes their BOGO's too (buy one get one free).

All goes well and hello to all my family and friends following us on our blog. Tomorrow is travel day when we go to meet some friends we knew in Florida and they moved to Augusta, SC (north Augusta).

Thursday June 7, 2012

The weather has been perfect. Gets in the 50's at night and upper 70's daytime. What rain we have had is mostly at night.

This is a beautiful part of Georgia with rolling hills, big trees and lots of water for recreation. We are located on the Oconee Lake here at North Shores Resort. Below is a little about the lake.

Lake Oconee is a reservoir in central Georgia on the Oconee River near Greensboro and Eatonton. It was created in 1979 when Georgia Power completed the construction of the Wallace Dam on the Oconee River. Lake Oconee is the second largest lake in the state of Georgia. Lake Oconee runs through Georgia's Morgan, Greene, and Putnam counties and is separated from its sister lake, Sinclair, by Wallace Dam.

Numerous upscale housing developments and resorts communities have been built on the banks of the lake since 1979, including Harbor Club, Reynolds Plantation, and Cuscowilla. Lake Oconee is also well-known for its golf courses, including Harbor Club which was awarded by Golfweek "top 10 places to play in Georgia" in 2009 and the Golf Club at Cuscowilla, ranked in the top 3 "Best Residential Courses" by Golfweek magazine since 2002.

Oconee is a Creek word meaning "great waters." Oconee is also known to mean "people of the skunk." The word is made by combining two Creek words 'O' meaning "people of" or "nation of" and 'Conee' meaning the "skunk."

I installed and programmed my new tire monitor. After driving with a tire monitor you don't want to be without it. Just makes you feel safer.

Linda and I played the miniature golf course here yesterday and it is a very challenging course. It could stand a little repair on the side rails but that only makes it more interesting. The golf course is based on the train theme as is the whole resort. We continue to enjoy our stay here and will be leaving next Wednesday to travel to another Resort of Distinction park, On the way, we will stop in Augusta, Ga. to see some friends that moved there from Melbourne a few years ago. Visiting friends is one of the benefits of being a full timer. You have plenty of time to visit friends and to make new ones.

Today was wash day for Linda and I spent my time polishing  the coach and cleaning the windshield.

water fill for train

a tough ho;e

notice the RR crossing sign

our traveling mascot

Tuesday June 5, 2012

Been a couple of days but not much has happened. Just living day by day as you do in a stick house. We went into Greensboro for groceries. We were told that we could get a free fishing license as we are 'old folks'. When we went for them we were told that as we were "out of staters" they were $45 each for a 3 day permit. Needless to say, we did not buy them.

Sunday we went to the church in the clubhouse here on the resort and it was wonderful. The preacher was an excellent singer and he sang for 15 or 20 minutes. It was very good.

The tire monitor is not working correctly - does not stay on. The company is located in Cumming, Ga so tomorrow we are going up to get a replacement. They quoted me a price of $59 for a new one or $39 for a refurbished unit. Will opt for the new one. It is 82 miles up there and is near Helen Ga. so we may drive on up there.

Even as full timers the government doesn't forget us - had to send in the estimated taxes. That is no fun.

Thursday June 1, 2012

Really hard to believe that we are in the 6th month of the year already. The older you get the faster time goes.

Really wonderful day today after a rainy - stormy night. Really rained hard. This morning was cool, clear and sunny. Supposed to go into the 50's tonight.

Not much happened today. A "Y"  water hose connector broke so we went to the Home Depot for a replacement. Walked around the resort and enjoyed the weather. Tonight it is supposed to get in the 50's!

A little on the resort. The North Shore Resort at Lake Oconee is located on picturesque Lake Oconee on the site of the old Carey Station Depot. Lake Oconee is Georgia's cleanest lake boasting a variety of water recreational activities, spectacular fishing, boating, canoeing and other water sports. The Oconee National Forest is nearby with nature trails. We can fish free here - all we need to do is go to town and pay 3 bucks handling free for each of us and pick up our license. As this place is built on the railroad theme, there are box cars throughout the park converted to cottages. I took some pictures of the entrance and you readily see the railroad theme.

Met one couple that is about the original resident. He has lived here since 1988. He told me he bought it from a person that didn't want it anymore and paid all of $400.00 for it. I am sure they go for many thousands now!

Below are some pictures. The first one is of Gail, the very friendly lady I told you about yesterday that "checked" us in. The entrance to the park is very unique as it sure shows the railroad theme. One is of my sweet Linda outside of our RV.

Gail

Rental Unit

Linda at our RV

Club House

Entrance Guard House

Office